Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
681. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she has put in place in order to address the issue of child care places for children aged seven to 15 years, given that Tusla-registered child care providers do not accommodate children within this age bracket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30954/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe DCYA currently administers four targeted childcare programmes to support low income families. These are:
- Community Childcare Subvention (CCS).
- Childcare Education and Training Support Programme (CETS).
- After-School Child Care Programme (ASCC).
- Community Employment Childcare Programme (CEC).
As a matter of regulation all pre-school services must register with Tusla. Many pre-school services also cater for after-school children and, as such, their after-school provision can also be provided for within the programmes. For services that are 'after-school' only and do not cater for children under the age of 6 years, these services are required to voluntarily notify their service with their local City/County Childcare Committee.
Each of the current targeted childcare programmes provide for after-school childcare support.
Budget 2017 has approved additional funding for the introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme, a new national scheme of financial support for parents towards the cost of their childcare. This new scheme will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme. The new Affordable Childcare Scheme is intended to provide “wraparound care for pre-school and school-age children. The scheme will be available from September 2017 in respect of all services registered with Tusla, including those catering for after-school provision.
In view of the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government, my Department and the Department of Education and Skills established the Inter-Departmental Group on School Age Childcare. The Group’s Report, which will include recommendations on the future regulation and quality assurance of school age childcare services, is expected to be finalised shortly. I am also exploring ways in which currently unregistered child minders can qualify for the Affordable Childcare Scheme.
