Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 24 January 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion

9:30 am

Ms Bernie McNally:

Yes. There is a definition of work and study in the Bill. Some of the child care that will be made available is not only for parents who are working but for parents who are engaged in training. We need to keep a good wide definition of training because it may very structured training but sometimes it may be more informal. It is about how people are doing their best and struggling to get a job etc. There will be a definition of work and study in the Bill which will provide for people being brought into the scheme through the mainstream route and the sponsor agreements will be for slightly different groups of children and families who might be in a slightly more vulnerable position.