Seán Haughey
Question:247 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the efforts, if any, he is making to increase the supply of affordable child care facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10934/99]
Written Answers. - Child Care Services.
My Department has provided funding to support the development of child care services in disadvantaged areas since 1993. In July 1998 I announced expenditure of £5.2 million on the equal opportunities child care programme over the 1998-99 period which marks a significant increase in my Department's child care budget. Further expenditure of £450,000 was announced on 9 April. The equal opportunities child care programme is designed to support local communities and employers who are trying to facilitate women and men who have child care responsibilities while accessing training, education and employment. It is targeted primarily at community based projects in disadvantaged areas. The equal opportunities child care programme is part-funded by the EU.
The equal opportunities child care programme provides funding for capital infrastructure funding for upgrading, enhancing or establishing facilities; core funding to meet salary costs for senior child care workers in 25 community childcare projects nationwide; and employer demonstration child care initiative which is being developed in partnership with IBEC to stimulate employer interest and involvement in the development of child care services.
Later last year, my Department allocated £100,000 to the Shanty educational project in respect of child care.
In addition, a child care database is being established by my Department in conjunction with Area Development Management Limited to document and quantify the range and extent of child care provision and training being supported under EU funding and to establish baseline data on other facilities/services in child care being supported by the State. The child care database is also part-funded by the EU.
As the Deputy is probably aware, the Government decided on 2 February last to establish an interdepartmental committee on child care to evaluate, cost and prioritise proposals for the development of child care which are set out in recent reports on the matter. The committee is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives, at senior level, of the relevant Departments. It is required to report back to Government within a period of six months. The committee has already met on four occasions to date.
The Government also announced new measures in December 1998 to support child care in the budget. The new measures provide for the introduction of a capital allowance for capital expenditure incurred on the construction, extension or refurbishment of a building or part of a building used as a child care facility. They also provide exemption from benefit-in-kind taxation of certain child care services provided by employers to employees on a free or subsidised basis.