I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 146 and 417 together.
As part of the package of measures in Budget 2013 I announced, along with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, a €14 million joint childcare initiative between our two departments. This initiative demonstrates my determination to progress this issue despite the very serious financial situation and the particularly difficult budgetary situation this year. The new scheme will provide approximately 6,000 afterschool childcare places for eligible clients of my Department. It will be targeted to support those who engage in the activation process and who enter into employment. The places will be limited to low income families with children aged 4 to 12 years in primary school.
I believe that the availability of these childcare places is a very positive measure for lone parents. I secured the agreement for this scheme from Government, in conjunction with Minister Fitzgerald, to address the child care needs of lone parents as part of the reforms of the one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme. In addition, I have postponed the commencement date of the reductions to the age of the youngest child for receipt of OFP from January 2013 to July 2013, to provide time for this scheme to be defined and for some of these additional after-school child care supports to be put in place.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs estimate that the cost of universal after-school childcare provision in Ireland would be in the region of €1 billion per annum. Given the current fiscal constraints this level of funding is not currently available. The new scheme will build on the existing supports provided by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in the child care sector. My Department is working closely with officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to fully define the scheme. I expect that the scheme will commence with a pilot and be rolled out on a phased basis.
