Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2016
83. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the suggestions by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation that related capital investment will be necessary if the programme for Government commitment on having schools available for child care services is to be successfully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18723/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn interdepartmental working group has been established with officials from my Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to progress the key commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government (May 2016), in order to improve the range and quality of options for Parents for afterschool care for school-age children. My department has undertaken to consider how to facilitate the use of school buildings for this purpose. The Government has committed to delivering progress on this commitment in the first 100 days. As part of this work, the Group will consider and assess the following;
- Development of quality standards framework for after school provision
- Existing provision of after school care of school-age children
- Existing use of school buildings
- Capacity and demand for services
- Children's views on afterschool care
- An appropriate quality and standards framework
- The development of criteria for the capital scheme to be funded by DCYA under Budget 2016
- Collaborative models with existing community/private service providers
- Potential funding incentives for provision of services.
