Dear Colleagues,
These are the information, announcements, and deadlines for the week 15th – 19th August 2022.
17 August 2022
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman issued a Press Release welcoming the first ‘Partner Services’ signing up to Core Funding, as new data revealed a record increase in early learning and childcare providers signalling their intention to expand their services. Preliminary data gathered by the Department suggests a strong response from providers to Core Funding. (see full press release attached)
22 August 2022
Core Funding Stage 3 Funding Agreement
In order to receive an advance interim payment under the funding agreement it will need to be accepted by Monday 22 August 2022. Service Providers/Partner Services that accepts the funding agreements on or before Wednesday 31 August 2022 will receive payment for the full duration of the agreement, although the payment may not issue in advance. A Partner Service can accept the funding agreements at any point after 31 August 2022, but please note that funding under either agreement will not be backdated.
Core Funding Partner Service and Interim Funding Agreements
There are two funding agreements available for services to activate on the Early Years Hive.
- the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement
- the Interim Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.
Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement the Interim Funding Agreement are both required to be activated.
For Partner Services that have activated both funding agreements by 22 August 2022, advance payments, for whichever of the agreements is in effect, will commence the week ending 26 August 2022. All services who have activated the funding agreements by 31 August 2022 will receive payments in respect of 1 September 2022 onwards.
Both funding agreements are within the same Programme Application on the Programme page of the Early Years Hive.
To activate the agreements, follow the below steps:
Open the Programme page
Click on ‘Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement’ in the Available Programme Applications section
Click the Start button
You will then be asked to complete the following steps:
- Review Programme Details
- Confirm your Primary Authorised User (PAU)
- Confirm your Organisation
- Confirm your Bank Account
- Confirm your Service Provider
- Confirm your Tusla Registration
- Read and confirm the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement
- Read and confirm the Interim Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement
- Once activated, you will be able to view your agreements in the Active Programme Applications section.
Employment Regulation Order(EROs)
The process to finalise the EROs remains ongoing. Core Funding is depending on EROs being in place for all roles across the sector as defined in the Early Years’ Service Joint Labour Committee (JLC) Establishment Order. The procedure to develop EROs is an independent process underpinned by legislation. The sector is represented on the JLC by employer representatives from Childhood Services Ireland (CSI) and Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP), and worker representatives from SIPTU.(see full details attached)
Covid case advice
ELC and SAC providers and Childminders that have positive cases and require support can contact the HSE ELC/SAC dedicated helpline on 01 511 9777. For general Covid-19 queries you can contact HSE live on 1800 700 700 or 01 240 8787 or visit the First 5 website (www.first5.gov.ie) for the most up to date information and guidance.
Should you have any queries on the above, our contact details are 0449335454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
