Serious concerns in Leitrim over the viability of childcare services

At a recent meeting in Sligo a group of independent providers of Early Childhood and school aged care services in the Sligo-Leitrim area outlined their serious concerns relating to the recent changes which have been introduced to the funding of childcare services. These concerns relate to the new requirement by the Department of Children for ‘detailed financial

reporting’ which involves "producing exceedingly costly chartered accounts at end of year as a condition to avail of Core Funding from the Department."

James Gilmartin, an independent candidate in the upcoming local elections in North Leitrim is calling on Minister Roderic O’Gorman to address what he feels is "a totally unwarranted, unnecessary and costly requirement being placed on private childcare providers."

He outlined how "up to now childcare providers have submitted accounts to Revenue through regular accountants or on an individual basis. Bizarrely going forward this standard of revenue accounting will no longer be deemed acceptable for the Department of Children if providers wish to avail of Core funding from the department. Instead each provider regardless of size is being forced to employ a chartered accountant to furnish end of year accounts at considerable extra cost."

He continued: "Prior to signing up to the Core Funding, the terms and conditions had yet to be finalised by the department. Providers were at the time informed that simple income and expenditure accounts or similar would be sufficient for the department. Many providers have indicated they would never have signed up if they knew in advance that such draconian and costly reporting procedures were required."

He said that while this cost may be absorbed by large scale operators, "the reality is the majority of providers in our area will not be able to shoulder the cost. Already four such providers in the area have indicated that they will be ceasing operations this year or next year due to this."

‘‘These small scale childcare providers give invaluable service to parents, their children and to communities and they must be supported in every way possible. Removal of this ridiculous requirement for chartered accounts would be a first step in the right direction," Mr Gilmartin concluded.