Vol. 571 No. 2
252 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to reconsider his decision to reduce the budget for child care for VTOS students in view of the serious implications that the reduction in the budget is having for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21420/03]
269 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider the reduction in childcare grants afforded to the vocational education committees in view of the impact this will have whereby many VECs will have to abandon child care facilities and hence reduce the opportunity of many parents availing of second chance education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21438/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 269 together.
Since 1998 my Department has provided funding to vocational education committees to assist towards the childcare expenses of participants in VTOS, Youthreach and senior Traveller centre programmes. The cost of providing these supports has been rising steadily since 1998 and in the current year, the sum of the estimate by vocational education committees of their needs exceeds the amount of money available. I appreciate that the shortage of funds for child care supports has given rise to difficulties for a number of vocational education committees. At present, I am examining the possibility of providing some special assistance to vocational education committees that are particularly badly affected.
253 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the serious implications that many students on VTOS courses are now facing directly as a result of the budget being reduced for the provision of childcare; if he will give a detailed breakdown of the funding made available by his Department for child care for VTOS courses for the past three years and the way in which these figures relate to funding provided for this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21421/03]
Since 1998 my Department has provided funding to vocational education committees to assist towards the childcare expenses of participants in VTOS, Youthreach and senior Traveller centre programmes. The cost of providing these supports has been rising steadily since 1998 and in the current year, the sum of the estimate by vocational education committees of their needs exceeds the amount of money available. The budget allocation for child care in 2000 was £2,357,000, in 2001, £2,460,000 and in 2002, €3,019,00. In 2002 the sum of the estimate by vocational education committees of their needs for that year exceeded the amount available and supplementary funds of nearly €2 million became available towards the end of 2002. The child care budget for 2003 is €2,984,204. I appreciate that the shortage of funds for child care supports has given rise to difficulties for a number of vocational education committees. At present, I am examining the possibility of providing some special assistance to vocational education committees that are particularly badly affected.
