Finian McGrath
Question:206 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the Edenmore Nursery, Edenmore, Dublin 5 will receive all their community welfare payments in order to stay open for the children of the area. [29364/03]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Code.
Róisín Shortall
Question:208 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of staff and parents of two day nurseries (details supplied) in Ballymun, Dublin 11 resulting from her decision to abolish the crèche supplement; her views on the fact that this will result in children losing out on early education opportunities due to their parents' inability to pay fees; her further views on the fact that the withdrawal of this subsidy will jeopardise the future of these nurseries as the current funding they receive is inadequate to meet their costs; the steps she will take to restore this payment or secure funding from another source; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29407/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 208 together.
Subject to certain conditions, any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet his or her basic needs and the needs of any adult or child dependant may be entitled to assistance under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards.
The objective of the scheme is to meet immediate, short-term income maintenance needs. The scheme is not intended to be a long-term solution in any individual case.
The crèche supplement was introduced with the intention of providing assistance to the parent of a child who is in need of a short-term emergency support. This can arise, for example, to assist a parent who would not otherwise be able to avail of particular supports such as counselling services or addiction treatment programmes.
It is clear that payment of crèche supplements is increasingly being made for reasons which are outside the scope of the original scheme. An analysis of crèche supplements shows that some 35% of supplements have been in payment for over eight months, 20% of supplements for over one year and approximately 10% for more than two years. The fact that the supplements are in payment for long durations in many cases indicates that they have become a long-term child care support rather than the short-term social support for which they were intended. At present many of the groups involved in providing early education initiatives receive the bulk of their funding from the health boards. While the total amount spent on crèche supplements is significant the actual amounts contributed in individual cases is relatively small and administratively inefficient. My Department has discussed this matter with the health boards concerned to ensure that appropriate alternative measures are put in place to address the needs of families with children in this regard. The Northern Area Health Board has confirmed that the nurseries in question will not be closed as a result of these measures.