James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The short answer to the question is that I am awaiting the outcome of the interdepartmental group's deliberations and it would be premature to make any statement about it before then. This is a broadly based group of interdepartmental individuals who have engaged in a number of open consultation days with many of the stakeholders in the area. Shortly, an online questionnaire will be issued for both parents and providers to feed into this process.

I will now outline to the House several child care schemes that are currently in place. The child care education and training support scheme programme offers €145 per week towards the cost of a full day child care place. It also provides part time and after school places. The programme has a budget of €17 million per year and caters for approximately 8,000 children annually.

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