Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2011
468 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the cost of child care is a priority for her; the initiatives she will take on this matter; the discussions she has held with other Departments regarding same; the outcome of those discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26018/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have responsibility for implementing a number of programmes to support parents with the cost of childcare.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which was introduced in January 2010, provides for a free pre-school year for children aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1st September in the relevant year. Under this programme, in return for providing the free pre-school year to eligible children, a pre-school service will be paid an annual capitation for each eligible child enrolled. The standard capitation rate is €2,450 per annum and a higher capitation rate of €2,850 per annum is payable to services with more highly qualified staff.
The Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme which was introduced in September 2010 provides free childcare places to qualifying trainees attending certain FÁS and VEC courses. Under this programme qualifying students and trainees can avail of childcare places free of charge, with my Department paying providers a weekly capitation rate of €170 for each full-time childcare place contracted in their service, €95 for each half day care place and €50 for an after school place.
Funding is also provided by my Department to support the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme which enables community childcare services to provide childcare at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income families. These not-for-profit facilities provide childcare at cost price with reductions to qualifying parents based on the level of subvention they are entitled to under the programme.
The above childcare programmes represent an overall investment in the region of €220 million in childcare supports in 2011.
