Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
516. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 16 October 2012, in which she indicates that the inter departmental group on school-age childcare has completed its work; if she will arrange for the publication of its full findings, conclusions and recommendations and the date of same. [47677/12]
View answerThe role of the Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on School-Age Child Care 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 my Department – including those of lone parents. The model in question will address the child care requirements of children aged between 7 and 12 years (inclusive) and will also address the child care required during both the school term and the school holidays. Extensive work has been completed by the Group to quantify the level of school-age child care that is 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 also been carried out of existing child care schemes and of the capital investments already made by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in this sector. The work of the IDG is still on-going as based on these findings the IDG are currently engaged in detailed discussions to define a suitable and effective school-age childcare model. Once completed, the model and proposals will be submitted to Government for approval.
