John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 547: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to encourage single parents to go back to further education; her views on whether this would be made easier if assistance were made available for children under the age of five; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35363/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In order to encourage parents to go back to further education, my Department provides funding for VECs to assist towards the child care expenses of participants in certain further education programmes. These are the vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, Youthreach and senior Traveller training centre programmes. The administration of these grants is a matter for individual VECs. Students in the relevant programmes who feel entitled to such grants should apply to their VECs. The disbursement of the grants is a matter for each VEC.

The funds provide for direct provision of creche facilities in centres or in rented premises, including staff, equipment, refurbishment, rental, insurance and other overheads and the purchase of places in existing community or commercial creches. This is subject to payment of a maximum of €63.50 per week per child for a full-day session, with pro rata adjustments for sessions of lesser duration; the payment of childminders, subject to a maximum of €63.50 per child per week for a full session, with pro rata adjustments for part-time sessions.

The grant is intended as a contribution to costs. VECs determine the level of child care provision and have the discretion to bridge any gap between the Department's grant and actual costs they approve. While the grants scheme does not apply to children of any particular age, VECs have the option of according priority to older children.