Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2012
57 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection the cooperation her Department will undertake with the Department of Education and Skills to introduce greater child care provision for lone parents in Budget 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22202/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra68 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that will be taken between now and the end of 2012 by her to introduce a comprehensive and affordable system of child care along the lines of the Scandinavian model to assist lone parents and other groups in finding employment, training and education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22201/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 68 together.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012 introduces changes to the structure of the one-parent family payment (OFP) and to the age of the youngest child at which the payment ceases. The changes introduced in the Act are being brought in over time between now and 2015. This reform recognises parental choice with regard to the care of young children and, simultaneously, holds an expectation that parents will not remain outside of the workforce indefinitely.
In view of the changes that have been introduced in the Act, there is a need to address the issues pertinent to the provision of appropriate education, training, employment and child care supports — including after-school care — to both lone parents and other groups who are seeking to access educational and training opportunities and/or re-join the workforce. Discussions have taken place and are on-going between my Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs with regard to the provision of child care and after-school care. This includes the assessment of the extent of the current provision of such care, the costs of such care to parents, and the demand for such services from lone parents. These discussions will now be extended to include the Department of Education and Skills in the context of exploring the possible role they could play in relation to the provision of after-school care. The Government will consider these matters further in the context of developing it's approach to Budget 2013.
