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Child Care Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2012

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Questions (366)

John Halligan

Question:

366. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to her acknowledgement that parents should not lose the one parent family payment when their youngest child reaches the age of seven unless a comprehensive system of Scandinavian style childcare is in place; if she will fulfil her promise to ensure the introduction of affordable childcare or after-school care nationally before the implementation of the new one parent family payment cut off point of seven years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46334/12]

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Written answers

The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, 2012, introduced changes to the structure of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) and to the age of the youngest child at which the payment ceases. These changes are being phased in over time. For new recipients who made their OFP claim after the 3rd May 2012, the age of the youngest child will be reduced to 7 years of age from 2014. For all other recipients the age of the youngest child will be reduced to 7 years of age from 2015.

I have acknowledged that the reform of the OFP will require a broad engagement and co-ordinated response from Government. In that context, discussions have been taking place between the Department of Social Protection (DSP) the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) – which is the lead Department in relation to child care policy and provision – and the Department of Education and Skills (DES) with regard to the development of a policy framework around school-age child care and, in the short term, the assessment of the extent of the current provision of such care.

An inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on school-age child care, chaired by DSP and comprising of representatives from both the DCYA and DES, has been established and is presently examining the needs and provision of school-age child care in the country. The role of the IDG is to explore the best possible model for enhancing the provision of school-age child care to assist in meeting the child care needs of the customers of the DSP – including lone parents. The model in question will seek to address the child care requirements of children aged between 7 and 12 years (inclusive) and will also address the level of child care provision required during both the school term and the school holidays.

Extensive work has been completed by the IDG to quantify the level of school-age child care required to support the relevant social welfare income support recipients, in particular lone parents, for each year up to and including 2015. An examination has been completed of existing child care schemes and of the capital investments already made by the DCYA in this sector. The IDG intends to submit proposals on school-age child care to the Government for its consideration in due course.

Question No. 367 answered with Question No. 301.
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