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Child Care Costs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Questions (133, 135, 139)

Denis Naughten

Question:

133. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the additional steps she will to take to address the availability and affordability of regulated child care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17260/13]

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Pearse Doherty

Question:

135. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the proposals she has to improve the level of child care and early education cost supports, particularly for parents on low to middle incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17269/13]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

139. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of her statement that the increased population figures strengthen the need for a much sharper focus in Ireland on early intervention and early year’s services with a view to improving children outcomes and future prospects, the actions she is taking to boost intervention and services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17291/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 135 and 139 together.

My Department is currently developing a new Children and Young People’s Policy Framework which will set out high-level goals for both my own and other Departments for the next five years. The Policy Framework is expected to be published in mid 2013 and will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland’s first Children’s Strategy which was published in 2000. This is relevant to the National Early Years Strategy as the Strategy is one of three, more detailed strategies which will be developed under the Framework.

The Early Years Strategy, which will be Ireland's first ever national strategy for early years, is already under development and is expected to be completed and published later this year. It is expected that it will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life such as health, including physical and mental development, vaccination programmes and population health issues such as nutrition and exercise, as well as parenting and family support, learning and development, play and recreation and early childhood care and education, including literacy and numeracy.

The Strategy will bring together and consider a significant amount of international and domestic research on the importance of early years for child development, including findings from the 'Growing up in Ireland' study. It will also be informed by the evaluations from the Prevention and Early Interventions Projects which have been funded jointly by my Department and philanthropic organisations, as well as an analysis of existing service provision and associated resources. The major programme of institutional change which is currently under way, including the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency, will also be taken into account.

The results of a public consultation, undertaken as part of the development of the Children and Young People’s Policy Framework, is currently being analysed and will inform both the Framework and the Early Years Strategy. A further, focused consultation with key stakeholders in relation to the Early Years Strategy, is also proposed.

My Department continues to provide significant support to parents to assist them with the cost of childcare. This support is provided through the provision of two targeted childcare support programmes - the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme - and the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.

The CCS programme provides funding to community-based childcare services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments or on low incomes.

The CETS programme provides €145 towards the weekly cost of full time childcare places to participating childcare services for trainees and students who are deemed qualified by FÁS or the VEC. Students on part-time courses are funded on a pro rata basis.

The ECCE programme provides one free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Children aged between 3 years 2 months and 4 years 6 months at 1 September in the relevant year qualify for a maximum of 15 hours per week free pre-school provision over a 38 week period. This is a universal programme to which all children have access.

You may also be aware that, as part of Budget 2013, I announced with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, a joint school age childcare initiative. This initiative, which represents an annual full year investment of €14 million, will provide important support to parents in low income families wishing to take up employment, along with ensuring that quality after-school care is in place to support children's development.

In 2013, the total expenditure by my Department on these support programmes is expected to be in the region of €260 million. These programmes have been maintained and expanded despite the ongoing need to reduce Government expenditure and they represent a significant investment in supporting parents with the cost of childcare.

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