Affordable Childcare Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2017

Tuesday, 17 October 2017

Ceisteanna (506)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

506. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if flexibility will be given in circumstances in which a family has a child in a crèche and it has signed up to the affordable childcare scheme and the parent works three days one week and two days the second week but the provider does not allow flexible options and will only allow the child register for the scheme for only two days each week, hence the family loses out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43725/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Childcare provisions in my Department operate to support parents to access employment and to meet the needs and well-being of children. It is considered to be in the best interests of children to have regular and consistent patterns of childcare and our systems are set up with this in mind.

In certain exceptional circumstances, we do allow for unusual arrangements, but as currently constructed we cannot facilitate all possible permutations of childcare. Our system operates on the basis of fixed weekly patterns. This may be something that my Department can review for future programme cycles as unfortunately, it is not possible to make major system changes after the operational commencement of a childcare programme.