As you know Core Funding is a new strand of funding for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services which forms part of the new DCEDIY funding model ‘Together for Better’.
Two key conditions of the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreements are the requirements for Partner Service (PSs) to complete transparent and validated financial reports and a Quality Action Plan (QAP) each year.
The Department now invites you to engage in the initial process of developing the Chart of Accounts (COA) that is the first step in creating the reporting templates that will be the building blocks of the Core Funding Partner Service’s Annual Financial Reporting Return. This engagement process will involve a number of consultation sessions. CCCs have been asked to host regional consultation sessions; you are invited to participate in one being jointly hosted by Sligo and Donegal CCC.
A COA is a financial organisation tool that provides an index of every item in an accounting system. This will make the financial reporting easier for services to complete and for the Department to interpret.
A draft COA has been developed to assist with the process of Partner Services providing detailed, transparent, validated financial data as part of the contractual obligations under Core Funding. The purpose of this consultation is to gather your feedback and to assist you in adapting to this new process.
In these consultation sessions, we would like to hear your views on this draft (COA) and if this COA will support report transparent reporting on the financial incomings and outgoings of your service.
The second part of the session is on the Core Funding Quality Action Plan. As the Core Funding Quality Action Plan is a new process for all Partner Services, the Department wishes to gather your feedback on and experience of the year 1 (2022/23), so that improvements can be made for year 2 (2023/24).
The consultation session will take place in Dillon’s Hotel, Letterkenny on the Wednesday 21st June at 7pm and is open to all Partner Services in the county.
We will seek your views on the:
- initial development of a Chart of Accounts which will provide the basis of the Early Years Sector Financial Reporting Return.
- your experience of the 2022-2023 Quality Action Plan (QAP) process and improvements required for the 2023-2024 programme.
| Date and time | Venue | Target Audience- representatives from: |
| Wednesday 21st June 7 – 9pm | Dillon’s Hotel, Letterkenny | Sole Trader, CLG, Board of Management of Schools, friendly Society’s, Organisations established by Statute and other non-for-profits or other |
We apologise for the short notice at such a busy time, but it is important that Partner Services contribute to these consultations to ensure your views are considered in the development of these reporting processes from an early stage.
If you are interested in attending a consultation session or require further information, please contact Louise Toner on 0858772631.
If you are unable to attend the session in your county you may be able to attend a session in the cluster: Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal and Mayo. If you want to attend another session, please also call us and we will facilitate you at another session if we can.
