Vol. 524 No. 6
288 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of the £5 million that has been allocated in his Department for the use of schools for after hour care of children that has been drawn down; the schools that are being used for such after hours care of children; the number of children that are being cared for; the locations of each of the schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23529/00]
Arrangements have yet to be finalised for the draw down by schools of the £5 million available to my Department for schools that set up and run after school child care services.
In the case of the primary sector, schools are being selected on the basis of criteria developed by the educational research centre for the new more targeted child centred programme being introduced following the survey of all primary schools. Selection of schools at second level is based on pupil retention levels and incorporates the 117 schools selected for inclusion in the stay-in-school retention initiative.
It is envisaged that the scheme for the provision of after school child care services, which will be operational in the schools in the coming months, will cover the cost of appropriate personnel and other operating costs such as insurance, heating and lighting. As the scheme is not yet operational it is not possible to supply the Deputy with details of the number of children being cared for.
I have asked my officials to forward the relevant list of schools to the Deputy when the details of the scheme have been fully worked out.
