Some #childcare and #earlyyears providers may be put out of business after Christmas because Dept of Children/ Youth Affairs has sought immediate repayment of over-payments according to #ISME. Says demand issued Monday 9/11 seeking payment by Fri 13/11

#ISME Neil McDonnell to Roderic O'Gorman for Fed of Early Childhood Providers: demand "...threatens ability of parents to return to work after this lockdown, the employment of staff after Christmas, and the assurance of children's places on a scheme after Christmas." #childcare

#ISME to R. O'Gorman: due to govt decision to maintain #earlyyears sector when Covid struck, providers could access Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS). #childcare

#ISME to O'Gorman: In some cases, over-payments were made to providers during the lockdown, but providers have never disputed that they would have to be repaid at some stage. #childcare #earlyyears

#ISME to O'Gorman: on Skype call on 16/9, #DCYA official assured Federation "... that it was not the Department's intention to make providers struggle, and that a schedule of repayment would be facilitated."
#childcare #earlyyears

#ISME to O'Gorman: last Mon ( 9/11) "most" providers were emailed demand for recoupment by this Fri 13/11. with a warning that if funds are not returned by then, the Pobal agency "will commence the recoupment process against Programme payments." #childcare

#ISME McDonnell to O'Gorman: "Such a demand is completely unreasonable and cannot be met by our members without irreparable damage to their businesses," #childcare #earlyyears

#ISME to O'Gorman: most providers will only have one more payment in the 2020 calendar year - and that for mangers of Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE) services, this is their sole form of income as they have no parents' fees. #childcare #earlyyears

#ISME to O'Gorman: "Our providers' understanding is that this money is for the children's place in the service, therefore recoupment by Pobal should not arise." #childcare #earlyyears

#ISME to O'Gorman: claims Federation was also told no Access Inclusion Model (AIM) funding for extra special teachers would be recouped, but tells Minister : "...several members have advised that AIM has been recouped."
#childcare

#ISME to O'Gorman: issues also re lack of detail re remittance information given to providers, esp where more than one scheme is being paid for. Cites "unacceptable" case of demand for E25,000 where provider insists over-payment is E12,000. #childcare

#ISME to O'Gorman: while providers accept over-payments must be returned, "...during the currency of a second lockdown is not the time to do it". #childcare

#ISME to O'Gorman: "For many of them, this is the last payment due before Christmas. It pays the end of year tax bill, the employees' Christmas holiday wages, and the public liability insurance renewal at the start of January."
#childcare

#ISME to O'Gorman: closures/loss of childcare places can be avoided if warehousing and repayment measures applicable to other businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic are applied here. #childcare

#ISME to O'Gorman: seeks immediate meeting with minister/officials, "to put in place a retraction of this Friday's recoupment, and its replacement with a logical and sustainable schedule of repayments by the providers that protects them and their essential service."
#childcare

Response has been sought from Dept of Children and Youth Affairs. #childcare #ISME