Vol. 497 No. 4
43 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to introduce an early years opportunities subsidy as recommended by the Commission on the Family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23924/98]
I understand that the Commission on the Family proposed the introduction of an early years opportunities subsidy which aims to make quality pre-school services accessible to children from age three to school age at a cost of £1,000 per child.
This is a very general recommendation and would need detailed analysis in relation to how such a scheme could be implemented. It also relies on sufficient availability of pre-school places in quality childcare services.
I am committed to the development of childcare services in Ireland. In July of this year I announced a substantial increase in my Department's budget for the equal opportunities childcare programme. A budget of £5.2 million has been secured for the 1998-99 period, which includes part-funding from the EU.
This programme includes funding support for the establishment and development of childcare facilities and funding to 25 community based childcare facilities for the purpose of engaging qualified and trained personnel in order to improve the quality and sustainability of the projects.
We also established the expert working group on childcare in July 1997, to devise a national framework for the development of quality childcare services in Ireland. This group is considering the benefits, limitations and implications of a range of policies which would support the demand and supply sides of childcare bearing in mind the diversity of the needs of parents and childcare providers.
A copy of the executive summary of the report of the Commission on the Family has been circulated to the members of the group.
