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Child Care Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 January 2013

Thursday, 31 January 2013

Questions (106)

Michael McGrath

Question:

106. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of childcare places provided under community employment schemes; the way this has varied over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4985/13]

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Written answers

The Community Employment (CE) programme is a valuable resource in the provision of a range of services to communities, including child care services. To support the delivery of these essential services, the ring-fencing and prioritisation of places for child care was introduced on Community Employment in 2002. Total CE expenditure on child care amounted to €22.4m in 2012.

In order to support the delivery of community child care services there are 2,200 places designated for child care on CE each year; these places support community and voluntary providers of child care. While the supply of child care places remains constant there has been a reduction in the overall take-up of places. In 2005 there were 2,045 child care places taken up on CE and in December 2012 this had reduced to 1,696 child care places. Every effort is being made by the Department of Social Protection to encourage take-up of these places. The Department in collaboration with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) are changing and improving the provision of training and work experience for CE participants who wish to pursue a career in child care. These changes will provide a more tailored and valuable support to the provision of community child care and provide training to the participant up to FETAC Level 5. This new Training and Development Programme in Childcare will commence this year.

Presently there are 288 schemes with ring-fenced places for child care. There are approximately 27 schemes that provide child care services only, fourteen of these schemes are located in Dublin. The majority of schemes providing ring-fenced places for child care are not solely providing a child care service, these schemes co-ordinate a variety of places within communities. In most instances child care places are allocated to child care centres which are not directly managed by a CE Sponsor.

In addition Budget 2013 provided an additional 2,000 places to CE, the increase in the number of places will be funded from the budget of the Department of Social Protection. These places will be approved on a phased basis from the end of January to the end of the year, in line with the overall CE budget allocation to Divisions. Priority will be given to schemes and organisations who are involved in the delivery of community child care services as well as social and health care services. This is in order to support the provision of these services and offer training qualification and work experience to CE participants. An allocation of 500 additional places will be reserved for child care support.

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