Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am aware that the issue is under review and I will revert to the Senator as soon as that review is completed. On the question of the CE schemes under the remit of the Department of Social Protection, one of their great successes has been to train people to FETAC levels 5 and 6 who then go on to full time employment. Recently we have lowered the age of eligibility to allow younger people to participate in the child care programmes in particular, which has led to employment for many. I would be of the view that we should encourage as far as possible a greater involvement in CE child care programmes. I recently visited a child care facility and met three CE workers who were pursing level 5 and level 6 FETAC awards in child care, all of whom expected that they would move into employment. I would not like to see any blockage to moving into full-time employment for those participating in the successful schemes under the remit of the Department of Social Protection being run all over this country. I am sure that every Senator is familiar with the role of the Department in the area of child care and the CE schemes that are operational in all 26 counties.