687. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of applications that have been received for support under the Sustainability Fund within her Department in each of the years since it was introduced; the number in each year approved; and the associated monetary amount paid to each provider. [51887/26]

Sustainability funding is not accessed through a direct application process. The Department oversees a case management process, through which local City and County Childcare Committee (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to all Core Funding Partner Services experiencing difficulties, and through which Sustainability Funding may be granted should the need arise.

Under the direction of the Department, Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering on-the-ground case management assistance. This can include help for services with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.

In some instances, financial supports through Sustainability Funding may be appropriate, in tandem with this case management process. Pobal undertake a detailed financial review of any service wishing to access sustainability funding to assess their financial eligibility and need for funding. At the conclusion of this process, Pobal decide based on the funding criteria and the information gathered whether to recommend sustainability funding. These recommendations come to the Department for decision.

Please see a breakdown of the financial supports received by Early Years and School Age Childcare Services since 2018 in tabular form.

Please see below breakdown of amounts paid out towards each funding request in each of the years named above.

It should be noted that while some services do not meet the eligibility requirements for Sustainability Funding, all ineligible services can continue to avail of the non-financial supports through the Case Management Process should they choose to. If a services circumstances change, they may be re-assessed for Sustainability Funding and can seek this through their CCC.

If any service has viability concerns, the Department encourages them to reach out to their local CCC to start availing of supports through the case management process.