Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 July 2015
31. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the interdepartmental group dealing with child care is taking into account the issue of transportation, or lack of, when dealing with the improvement of afterschool care for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27364/15]
View answerMy Department currently provides approximately €260 million annually to support a number of childcare support programmes, including the provision of after-school childcare (with and without transportation).
Under the After-School Childcare (ASCC) programme, which was introduced to support low-income families and unemployed people returning to the workforce, a subsidy of €40 per week is paid for an after-school place. This subsidy increases to €80 per week where a pick-up service is provided by the childcare service to take the child from school to the childcare facility.
The Childcare Education and Training Support programme, which was introduced for parents availing of courses provided by Solas or the Education Training Board, also provides support for after-school child care. Under this programme, a €45 subsidy is provided for an after-school place, and where a pick-up service is provided, the subsidy is increased to €80 per week.
The Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Early Years and After-School Care and Education, which I established in February this year is currently finalising its report, which will be submitted to Government shortly. This Inter-Departmental Group, which is tasked with setting out a range of options for current and future investment, will consider options to enhance affordability, options to increase the accessibility of provision and options to build the quality of both early years and after-school childcare. It is therefore likely that transportation will be considered by this Group in the recommendation in relation to after-school childcare.
