Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

First, we are building a child care system. We are expanding and investing in it. The after-school child care service is an important addition. As the Deputy is probably aware, discussions are ongoing to determine if, as happens in many schools, school buildings can be used later in the afternoon as a location for after-school services. Some schools already run such services which are popular with parents. There are other schools, however, which do not permit them. If we can make progress in this area, it would lead to a significant expansion above and beyond the after-school child care service to which I referred. I can confirm that discussions with the Department of Education and Skills and Student Universal Support Ireland on grant applications and qualifications are ongoing.

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