"Children's Minister Norma Foley will try to lower upper limits on fees to reach its ambitious target to cut costs to €200 a month per child. Government sources revealed that reducing the maximum fees that providers can charge is the key element of its plan to dramatically ease the burden on overstretched parents. Fee caps have already been rolled out for providers who are part of the Government's Core Funding scheme."
"Parents also get subsidies to reduce their costs that will also be factored into calculations to achieve the €200 figure. Providers who must reduce fees due to the new upper limits will be eligible for ­extra funding. A department spokesperson said further details of the fee cap will be announced in the "coming months". He said it will apply to all services in the Core Funding scheme from September next year."
Government plans to reduce maximum childcare fees and will scrutinise providers' latest financial records to determine feasible lower limits. Fee caps already apply to services in the Core Funding scheme, with six existing caps based on weekly hours, ranging from €59 for under 10 hours to €354 for 50 hours or more. Parents receive subsidies that will be included in calculations to reach a €200 per child monthly target. Providers required to lower fees will be eligible for extra funding. Enhanced fee-management measures aim to standardise fees and provider income. The fee cap will apply to all Core Funding services from September next year.
Read at Irish Independent
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