Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2024
312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department liaises with the Department of Education with a view to putting in place integrated after-school child care facilities for children in their school buildings to ensure appropriate care is available for children whose parents work full-time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26269/24]
View answerEnsuring that quality accessible early learning and school age childcare is available to families is a key priority of Government.
The Programme for Government commits to increase the range of after-school services in schools or community hubs to offer a range of education and family-focused measures.
Currently, approximately, 15% of all early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) services are located in schools.
The scope for wider use to be made of school buildings is a matter for the Department of Education and the various patrons that govern schools across the country. The Department of Education policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including ELC and SAC.
The Department of Education has recently published "Procedures on the use of school property and school sports facilities outside of school hours".
Officials in my Department responded to a request for input and provided observations to the Department of Education on a draft of this document. A follow up meeting has been sought with the relevant section.
