Niall Collins
Question:76. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to develop a Scandinavian model of childcare here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56688/12]
View answerTuesday, 18 December 2012
Questions (76, 92)
Mick Wallace
Question:92. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the proposed after school childcare scheme which falls short of calls for the development of a system of Scandinavian style childcare here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56764/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 92 together.
As part of Budget 2013, together with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, I was pleased to announce a new After-School Childcare initiative which will be targeted at low-income families and supporting parents availing of employment opportunities.
The initiative is expected to receive full year funding of €14 million to provide over 6,000 quality after-school places for children attending primary school, as well as supporting parents to take up employment. Lack of access to affordable, quality childcare is a significant barrier to many low income and disadvantaged families when seeking to avail of work and training or educational opportunities.
By providing over 6,000 after-school childcare places, the initiative will provide an important support measure to enable parents to avail of job opportunities. This is in line with the Government's overall strategy to support parents of low income families to take up employment and demonstrates how Departments are working together to deliver the Government's agenda on promoting employment and supporting children's development.
The After-School Childcare Scheme will further augment my Department's programme of childcare supports for low income families. These include the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programmes, both of which provide subsidised childcare for low income parents, including qualifying parents who are on approved VEC and FÁS education and training courses. In 2013, my Department expects to spend almost €71 million on the CCS and CETS programmes, supporting over 30,000 childcare places.
My Department also implements the universal free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, under which all children have equal access to free pre-school education in the year before commencing primary school. Some 65,000 children are currently availing of the ECCE programme at an annual cost of some €175 million.
Future developments in the area of early childhood care and education, will be considered by my Department in the context of its National Early Years Strategy. The Strategy is currently being developed within my Department and is expected to be completed in mid 2013. It is my intention that it will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life as well as identifying best practice in other jurisdictions that might be applied here.
There has been significant development in supports for childcare in recent years. The existing childcare schemes operated by my Department have been fully maintained, including the universal, free Pre School Year made available to every child in the country in the relevant age group.
Budget 2013 contained a very important initiative in the development of support for School Age Childcare for low income parents taking up employment opportunities. I believe these developments clearly demonstrate the Government's commitment to improving childcare provision.