Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 488: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will explore the option of providing funding to community playgroups; his views on whether the non-availability of and the high costs of child care facing young parents today is leading to financial hardship for many and with suitable child care buildings already in place a solution is within reach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22709/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that there have been significant improvements in the provision of supports for the development of child care over the last number of years. Child care was identified as an investment priority under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.

The equal opportunities child care programme has an equal opportunities and social inclusion perspective and facilitates the further development and expansion of child care facilities to address the needs of parents, in reconciling their child care needs with their participation in employment, education and training. It aimed to increase the supply of centre based child care places by 55% — some 31,000 places — by its end and I am happy to report that this target has been surpassed.

Child care services, including playgroups, which address social policy objectives in relation to employment are eligible to apply, in line with the programme criteria, for funding from my Department. Playgroups are generally sessional in nature and under the programme would be expected to open for at least 46 weeks in a year, offering a service five days per week. In addition, sessional playgroups are encouraged to provide two sessions per day to maximise the use of the facility and to provide flexibility of access to child care for parents. It is important to note that all services applying under the programme are encouraged to provide as wide a range of child care as is possible.

The positive impact the programme is having on flexible access to child care is illustrated by a recently published 2004 survey of more than 1,000 grant recipients. The survey was compiled for my Department by ADM Limited, which carries out the day-to-day management of the programme on my behalf. The 2004 survey showed that 36.1% of services funded under the programme operated for 40 hours per week or more. It also indicated that the average operating hours of services was 33.4 hours per week, which was an increase from an average of 31.7 hours in 2003. It is interesting to note in the survey that 38.2% of facilities which received funding under the programme operated full day care services and that 33.4% of facilities provided a sessional service of two sessions per day. The survey also indicates that some services provide more than one category of child care and may provide a mix of full day, sessional and school age child care.

Total funding committed since the programme commenced in 2000 is over €444 million, of which over €389 million has been allocated to child care facilities. This includes €45.6 million which I announced last Wednesday, 22 June 2005. The funding under the programme addresses the development of child care from capital, staffing and quality improvement perspectives. It is worth noting that, in addition to large-scale capital allocations, the programme has committed substantial funding to staffing grant assistance. Support towards the staffing costs of employing child care workers in community-based child care centres in disadvantaged areas ensures that less advantaged parents in those areas have increased access to quality child care and that they are charged fees which are less than the economic cost of providing the service.

It is expected that the total funding allocated to child care facilities will lead to the creation of some 39,900 new child care places. Of these new places, I am delighted to note that 24,600 were already in place by December 2004. They offer parents greater access to affordable child care throughout the country as they balance their work and family needs.

This Government's record in providing enhanced child care supports is without parallel and I am confident that we are moving rapidly to ensure that there are quality services available to parents throughout the country.

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 489: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position on a child care application for a group (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23517/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy may be aware the community-based group in question was awarded staffing grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, of €36,000 over three years in May 2002 and a further €24,000 over two years in September 2002. This brings the total staffing allocation approved for the group to €60,000, which was considered to be a sufficient contribution for the level of service being provided.

In January 2005, the group was informed by the child care directorate of my Department that staffing grant assistance will be maintained until 31 August 2005, at the current levels, for groups in receipt of staffing grant assistance for three or more years and subject to the groups' maintaining their approved level of service and implementing any conditions associated with the development of the service.

Following a detailed review of the existing staffing grants under the EOCP, I recently extended the terms of the grants to the end of December 2007 to groups which have received staffing grants for a period of three or more years and which continue to deliver a child care service in accordance with their pre-agreed targets. To benefit from such funding, the groups must continue to pay particular attention to the support of disadvantaged families and the implementation of a fee structure tailored to the differing financial circumstances of the client group and which ensures that child care places subsidised by the EOCP are targeted towards those most in need.