Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
524. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a family (details supplied) in County Kildare are not being offered free after-school tuition given it was previously received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46609/21]
View answerI am strongly committed to supporting all children to develop to their full potential, especially those who are most disadvantaged. The National Childcare Scheme provides financial support to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. The schemes objectives are to promote (i) a reduction in child poverty, (ii) positive child development outcomes, (iii) labour market activation and (iv) improved quality.
The National Childcare Scheme represents the first statutory entitlement to financial support for early learning and childcare. By making this fundamental shift away from the legacy schemes where subsidies are grounded in medical card and social protection entitlements, and by tangibly reducing the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families.
I have followed up with Pobal the scheme administrator for the NCS they have informed in relation the child in question, it would seem was awarded a NCS subsidy of 20 hours, this is the subsidy awarded where parents are not engaged in work or study. This award can be used in term time only.
The definition of work or study is broad, covering all forms of work or study arrangements: full-time, part-time, week-on/ week-off and zero hour contracts. This makes the scheme as flexible as possible. The minimum hours required to engage in work or study to qualify for enhanced hours is very low – at just two hours per week.
I am committed to keeping the scheme under review and to assess whether it is meeting its objectives. I have contracted Frontier Economics to undertake a review of the National Childcare Scheme in line with Section 26 of the Childcare Support Act.
Variations on the concept of a work/study test is widely used around the world and I have also requested that Frontier review the usage and evidence of efficacy of this approach in other countries.
This work is due to be finalised in the final quarter of this year and will inform in an evidence based manner the future development of the scheme.
