Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2017
670. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to ensure children can continue to avail of vital services (details supplied) that are in fact helping to reduce child poverty within very disadvantaged areas of the country as evidenced through poverty deprivation scores. [24411/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to ensure a balanced approach to eligibility for childcare subsidies under the Affordable Childcare Scheme. While people will qualify for a subsidy based purely on income, parents’ participation in work or training will determine the number of hours of subsidy available. When parents are engaged in work (including part-time work and labour market activation programmes) or in education or training, they will be eligible for an enhanced subsidy of up to 40 hours per week. When parents are not in work or training, childcare will be subsidised on a standard basis of up to 15 hours per week. I believe that this is a reasonable approach.
It will mean that this Scheme is open – albeit for standard hours rather than enhanced hours – to parents who are not taking part in work or training, but who choose to avail of up to 15 hours of childcare per week. In the case of school-going children, the child development objectives are met through school-going hours and, as such, the 15 standard hours of childcare applies to non-term time.
I acknowledge that, where a parent is at home and not engaged in work or study, the family will not benefit from subsidised after-school childcare. However, I believe it is important that the Scheme should actively support labour market participation through linking the number of hours of subsidy to a family’s need for childcare for the purpose of work, education or training.
There is also a small but important group of families for whom childcare is needed on child welfare grounds or for whom childcare is a necessary early intervention support and where there is a referral to the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme by Tusla. For the Affordable Childcare Scheme, it is proposed that, where such a referral is made, families would automatically qualify for a subsidy without having to satisfy any income or work/study test. Tusla would recommend the hours of childcare needed, i.e. whether an enhanced or standard subsidy is required. The Scheme would then provide the maximum rate of subsidy in respect of those hours of care, and no payment would be asked of the parents in these circumstances. This approach is consistent with current practice under the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme and is critical to supporting strong child welfare and protection practices. My officials are currently in discussion with Tusla in relation to the way in which this referral process will operate in the Affordable Childcare Scheme.
