Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 May 2000

Vol. 518 No. 6

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

468 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures being taken to ensure the provision of affordable child care; if the establishment of community play schools is part of his policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12511/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

My Department has been allocated £250 million over the course of the national development plan to improve child care provision throughout the country. The objectives of this child care funding will be to increase the number of child care facilities and child care places available and to improve the quality of our child care services. The establishment of community playgroups is part of this policy.

On 28 April 2000, I announced the availability of grants nationally for community based/not-for-profit child care organisations and small scale private child care providers. I will forward a set of application forms to the Deputy for his information and further application forms and information on the schemes announced are available from my Department's equal opportunities child care section. A lo-call service line has been installed to respond to inquiries from the public following the announcement of these grants. The range of grants available under my Department's equal opportunities child care programme will enable us to meet the objectives set out above.

Community groups and not-for-profit organisations, which includes community playgroups, can now apply for grants to establish, expand or upgrade child care facilities. They can also apply for staffing grants for full-time and part-time qualified child care staff which will assist them in their long-term planning and development.

The measures I announced on 28 April will make a real difference to the future of child care in Ireland by increasing the number of child care places and improving the quality of child care services. The funding being made available will support the establishment, maintenance and expansion of services over the coming years. The range of these measures will ensure that the supply of quality child care will be increased, particularly in disadvantaged areas, and that these facilities will benefit from staffing supports for qualified child care workers.

Apart from the grants I recently announced, my Department is currently putting in place initiatives which will allow us to support the development of child care training, the enhancement of services for the national voluntary child care organisations, the development of local child care networks and innovative projects in child care. These further initiatives will be announced in due course.

My Department has been given responsibility for co-ordinating child care service delivery over the course of the national development plan. This involves the establishment of national and local structures to advance child care service provision.

The measures I have outlined will allow us to substantially increase the number of child care facilities and places available, while ensuring that child care funding is targeted in a co-ordinated fashion throughout the country.