ECCE-only preschools face commercial rates bills of up to €7,000

Junior housing minister John Cummins has asked officials to examine legislative changes following bills issued to some providers

Junior housing minister John Cummins has asked officials to examine legislative changes following bills issued to some providers.

The Government is to examine legislative changes to ensure ECCE-only preschool services are not hit with costly commercial rates bills.

It has emerged that Tailte Éireann has issued commercial rates bills to services that only offer Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), with some bills amounting to thousands of euro.

Junior housing minister John Cummins has asked officials to explore ways to make the necessary clarifications so that ECCE-only services are treated in the same way as not-for-profit childcare providers when it comes to commercial rates.

It is understood that some ECCE-only services that provide State-funded pre-school education have already received bills of up to €7,000.

Under the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015, an exemption was included to provide for childcare providers that exclusively offer early childhood care and education and are established and operated on a not-for-profit basis.

Ambiguity around ECCE-only services that are completely State-funded has resulted in such providers being issued with commercial rates bills and, in some cases, has led to substantial charges that have threatened the viability of much-needed services across the country.

Mr Cummins said: “It is unsatisfactory that ECCE-only providers who have not previously been charged commercial rates are now receiving rates bills from local authorities on foot of valuations by Tailte Éireann.

“I recognise the significant pressure that such providers are already under, and this is a matter that I want addressed. I have asked my officials to work through what changes are required to resolve it.

“If the Valuation Act needs to be amended to provide clarity and ensure this issue cannot arise, we must be prepared to take the necessary steps to do so,” Mr Cummins said.