Child Care Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 May 2012

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Ceisteanna (260, 261)

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

265 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding any grants available to set up after school care for children using primary school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22379/12]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme is implemented by my Department and provides funding to community not for profit childcare services to enable them to provide childcare services at reduced rates to qualifying parents. Community services providing after school care are eligible to participate in the CCS programme. While there are no specific grants provided by my Department to primary schools for the provision of after school services, the Board of Management of a primary school, or a community group providing after school services from a primary school building, are eligible to apply to enter the CCS programme. I wish to advise the Deputy, however, that at this point in time, no new places under the CCS programme are being considered by my Department.

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

266 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provision available in Dublin mid west constituency to co-ordinate child care services, including in relation to training, recruitment, career guidance and monitoring for those establishing childcare facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22380/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)

Thirty three City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in 2001 by the then Office of the Minister for Children under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 to co-ordinate a strategy to promote and develop quality childcare throughout the country. The CCCs are composed of local representatives from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, social partners, childcare providers and parents. There are four committees in Dublin City and County to provide for the four local authority administrative areas within the County.

The CCCs offer a wide variety of services locally that include advice on setting up a childcare business, childcare information sessions, and co-ordinating training courses for those working in the childcare sector and those considering a career in childcare. Services are also provided to parents, such as information on local childcare facilities and parent networks. The CCCs also play a very important role in the implementation of the three childcare support programmes funded by my Department. Pre-school services are regulated under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. Under the Regulations, pre-school services, including childminding services taking care of more than 3 pre-school children, are required to notify the Health Service Executive (HSE) of their services and the Pre-School Inspectorate of the HSE carry out inspections of these pre-school services with the objective of securing the health, safety and welfare of children attending them.

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is implemented by my Department and provides a free pre-school year to eligible children. In the region of 95% of pre-school services throughout the country are participating in this programme. The CCCs continually monitor the programme in order to ensure that all parents benefit from the free pre-school provision as intended. In addition, Pobal — as an agent of my Department — also carry out site visits to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the programme.