Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2004
74 Mr. Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will withdraw the proposal to cut back the child care allowance for parents participating in the back to education scheme (details supplied). [12769/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFÁS provide a child care allowance on a sliding scale to participants on a range of training programmes. The aim of the allowance is to support people actively seeking to re-enter the labour market. FÁS funds this allowance from its training and integration supports budget and is responsible as part of its day to day activities for decisions relating to actual annual breakdowns between schemes and for payments to individual participants. I am advised by FÁS that there is no decision to cut back the child care allowance allocation in 2004 which amounts to almost €6 million. The back to education allowance scheme is a separate initiative for which the Department of Education and Science has responsibility.
