Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2012
569 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that cuts to child care training and education support are forcing crèches to close in Ballyfermot, Cabra and Whitehall, Dublin; if she will reinstate the child care training and education support to the 2011 level of €170 per child per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24900/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently administers three support programmes — the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
During 2011, all areas of expenditure within my Department were examined under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. Under this review savings of some €16.5 million in current funding have been agreed for my Department for 2012. While my Department is in a position to retain all three support programmes, it is necessary, in view of the reduced funding, to make some revision to certain payment rates and subvention levels under each programme. The CETS programme provides qualifying FÁS and VEC students with free childcare places for the duration of their course. The Department currently pays childcare services €170 per week for each full-time place contracted under the programme, in some 1,600 community and commercial facilities. This is the only category of parents who currently pay no contribution to the cost of their childcare requirements. From September 2012, the Department will reduce the weekly price paid to services to €145 per full-time place. However, services will then be allowed to charge a weekly fee of not more than €25 per full-time childcare place.
The Government has made a very significant commitment to maintaining the three childcare support programmes at this time. However, the changes made to capitation and payment rates are necessary because of the ongoing need to reduce Government expenditure. While I am aware of the difficulties being experienced by the three childcare facilities referred to by the Deputy, I would point out that other crèches will continue to operate under the new funding arrangements.
Finally I can assure the Deputy that the parents will be facilitated to continue their studies by the provision of places in other local facilities, and that the local City Childcare Committee is working on this.
