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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 3

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Michael Ring

Question:

193 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding which has been provided to Mayo VEC for the child care allowance for VTOS course participants; the amount of funding Mayo VEC received in 2002 and 2003; and the amount of a shortfall in this regard. [28283/03]

Michael Ring

Question:

194 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding allocated to vocational education committees nationwide in 2002 and 2003; the vocational education committees which had shortfalls in their funding; and the amount it would take in each county to provide child care allowance for VTOS course participants to the end of 2003. [28284/03]

Michael Ring

Question:

205 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when the funding allocated to Mayo VEC to meet the child care need of the VTOS participants in the county will be paid out; and if this money will be backdated to September 2003. [28359/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 193, 194 and 205 together.

My Department provides funding to vocational education committees to assist towards the child care expenses of participants in VTOS, Youthreach and senior Traveller centre programmes.

The financial provision at national level in 2002 for child care assistance for participants on these programmes was €3,019,000 of which €77,827 was allocated to County Mayo VEC. The corresponding provision at national level for 2003 is €2,984,204 of which the allocation to County Mayo VEC is €64,151.

In 2002, the sum of the estimate by vocational education committees of their needs for child care funding exceeded the amount available. Additional funds became available towards the end of 2002 which allowed the Department to allocate supplementary grants in respect of child care assistance. Actual payout to vocational education committees for 2002 was €4,736,831 of which €101,837 was paid to County Mayo VEC. Some 27 vocational education committees, including County Mayo VEC, have requested special assistance by way of additional funding in 2003 for their child care services up to the end of the year. These vocational education committees were asked to indicate their minimal requirements to maintain the service and this information is currently being analysed in my Department.

Supplementary allocations will be made to vocational education committees, including County Mayo VEC, on foot of the information supplied and payments will issue in the very near future.

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