I propose to take Questions Nos. 302, 348 and 349 together.
The inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on school-age child care, chaired by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and comprising of representatives from both the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) – which is the lead Department in relation to child care policy and provision- and the Department of Education and Skills (DES), is presently examining the needs and provision of school-age child care in the country. The role of the IDG is to explore the best possible model for enhancing the provision of school-age child care to assist in meeting the child care needs of the customers of the DSP – including lone parents. The model in question will seek to address the child care requirements of children aged between 7 and 12 years (inclusive) and will also address the level of child care provision required during both the school term and the school holidays.
Extensive work has been completed by the IDG to quantify the level of school-age child care required to support the relevant social welfare income support recipients, in particular lone parents, for each year up to and including 2015. An examination has been completed of existing child care schemes and of the capital investments already made by the DCYA in this sector. The IDG intends to submit proposals on school-age child care to the Government for its consideration in due course.
Officials from my Department have also met with some of the lone parent representative groups to discuss a number of issues that are affecting lone parents – including their initial views in relation to child care. In addition to this work, I have had the opportunity, with my officials, to examine the Swedish child care system. The information and experience gained from that examination, will provide valuable input to the on-going work of the IDG.