Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2014
31. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the additional steps she will take to address the availability and affordability of regulated child care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14017/14]
View answerI am very much aware of the relatively high cost of childcare in this country. Significant investment, totalling more than €260m, is being provided this year by my Department to provide for a number of childcare programmes that assist parents with the cost of childcare. These programmes include the Free Pre-School Year, from which approximately 68,000 children benefit annually. The financial benefit to the parent of a child participating in the free pre-school year is about €2,500.
The Community Childcare Subvention programme, which provides targeted benefit primarily to lower income and disadvantaged families, is also accessible to parents who have relatively average incomes on the basis of their entitlement to hold a GP visit card. About 25,000 children each year benefit from this programme. Parents who qualify for the highest rate of support can have the weekly charge reduced by up to €95 for each child.
Funding is also provided by my Department to support the Childhood Education and Training Support programme which targets funding to support parents seeking to return to the workforce who are participating in Solas or Education and Training Boards education and training programmes. About 2,500 childcare places are provided each year under this initiative. Parents qualifying under this programme can have the overall charge reduced by as much as €145 per week for each child. A further 1,800 part-time childcare places are available under the CETS programme to Community Employment scheme participants. In addition, 600 places are available under the School Age Childcare programme, which targets social welfare recipients availing of employment opportunities.
I have succeeded, despite the challenging budgetary situation, in maintaining these childcare programmes, ensuring that a significant number of children can avail of quality childcare services who would not otherwise be in a position to do so. I am happy to advise the Deputy that a review of the childcare support programmes will be undertaken by my Department in the coming year with a view to identifying areas where they could be enhanced and improved to ensure the best use of the investment which is currently being made in this area.
