Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2017
364. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a record is maintained and monitored of the number of participants on community employment child care schemes that are retained in the early year’s sector; if her Department engages regularly with the Department of Social Protection on community employment child care schemes; if so, the details of this engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4992/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department holds a record of, and monitors, the number of children who avail of the Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme, which is one of the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes. This programme is targeted at Community Employment (CE) participants who require childcare in order to begin or continue on a CE scheme. Eligibility for the CEC programme is determined by a letter from the community employment sponsor.
My Department does not keep a record of the number of adults participating on Community Employment (CE) Schemes. The CE Scheme is administered by the Department of Social Protection who would therefore be responsible for maintaining records of participants on CE Schemes.
The CEC programmes is to be replaced by the Single Affordable Scheme, as announced in Budget 2017. My Department has liaised with the Department of Social Protection in the context of progressing the Single Affordable Scheme.
