Core Funding is a payment to Partner Services designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff.
Partner Services must uphold their contractual obligations regarding their fees charged to parents/guardians as laid out in the Core Funding Partner-Service Funding Agreement
Where an individual identifies a case of a potential breach of Core Funding fee rules by a Partner Service, they may seek to have this examined and a conclusion reached through the Core Funding Fee Review process. This is the appropriate mechanism to determine such cases as those the Deputy raises.
Further details on the Fee Review process can be found here: first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Together-for-Better-Guidelines-on-Fee-Management.pdf
As per my response to Parliamentary Question Nos. 532 and 533 of 9 May 2023, a Partner Service may create a new Service Type and must ensure that the fee for any new Service Type will be calculated as not more than a proportion of the closest equivalent fee extant on September 30th 2021 which, all other things being equal, would apply to the eligible child.
Where a Partner Service increases the level of service offered, a higher fee can be charged for this, but the higher fee must be in direct proportion to the increase. For example, an increase in full-day care from 40 hours/week to 50 hours/week represents an increase of 25%. A higher fee can be charged for this but it cannot exceed 25% more than the previous fee that was charged to parents as of 30 September 2021. Similarly, an increase in weeks from a 38 week offering to a 52 week offering must be charged proportionately.
I would encourage any parent or person with concerns or questions about fees and/or to initiate a Fee Review process to contact their local CCC for support and guidance, contact details available here: My CCC .
