606. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that parents are charged for creche fees at Band F, based on the assessment that the creche is open for 55 hours per week, even though some parents only use the creche for 44 hours per week (over 5 days); if she can confirm if parents should pay the lower rate (Band E) where they use the creche for 44 hours per week (5 days); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47059/26]

Core Funding is a supply-side grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs, designed to promote affordability for parents and sustainability for providers through increased funding to the sector.

When first introduced in 2022, Core Funding had an annual allocation of €259 million; €210.8 million of which was entirely new funding to the sector. That annual allocation has increased each year since and has exceeded €390 million for the current fourth year of the Scheme. This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding in three years.

A key condition of receiving the significant State funding that is available through the Scheme requires that a Partner Service adhere to the Core Funding fee management system, which includes a freeze on fees at 2021 levels and fee caps. This is to ensure that the State’s significant investment through the Scheme is not absorbed by unnecessary fee increases. This approach to stabilising fee rates in the sector is in line with the recommendations outlined in Partnership for the Public Good, the Expert Group report which was accepted by all of Government in December 2021.

In June, I announced that the maximum fee caps for all Partner Services in Core Funding will be lowered from September 2026. Under these new fee caps, the fee for a full day place – of between 40-50 hours per week, the most common full day care operating hours – will be no more than €280 per week (before State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme are deducted), the fee cap for 50+ hours of care is €336.

The fee caps are stepped down on a pro rata basis, meaning there will be a maximum amount a service can charge at each Fee Band, from Band A (less than 10 hours per week) up to Band F (50 hours or more per week).

The hours per week and associated maximum fee at each Fee Band refer to the care purchased by a parent for their child on a weekly basis. Fees charged to a parent should be based on the hours that were agreed to between the parent and the service, not the total opening hours of the service.

In any case, from September 2026 a parent purchasing 44 hours of weekly care should not be charged any more than €280 per week.

If a parent is concerned that their provider has not followed the above procedure, or in the event that they wish to raise a concern regarding a potential breach in fee conditions, the first step is to reach out to their local City/County Childcare Committee for support and guidance. Contact details for local City/County Childcare Committees can be found at gov.ie - City and County Childcare Committees

For information, the Department has a list of all Core Funding Partner Services which is updated regularly on the Departments website under https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/how-to-find-a-partner-service/