David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the assistance and supports available to parents and to childcare providers respectively from her Department to improve the provision of after-school care for school-going children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28053/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The new National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010 will provide a proactive response grounded in an understanding of local needs, to the development of quality childcare supports and services, including services for school going children. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the NCIP and the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006, which are being implemented by the newly established Office of the Minister for Children. The NCIP builds on the success of the EOCP which will conclude in 2007.

The need to support the further development of childcare services for children of school going age, including before school, after school hours and during school holidays, is an important objective of both the NCIP and the EOCP. One of the key objectives of the NCIP is the creation of 50,000 additional childcare places, including 5,000 after-school places.

School Age Childcare was examined in detail by a Working Group of the National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee, set up under the EOCP, resulting in the publication of the Report "School Age Childcare in Ireland", in June 2005. The Report made a number of recommendations for the development of School Age Childcare to support the childcare needs of parents, including the use of school premises, where appropriate, as a location to develop a quality School Age Childcare service, as well as laying down Guidelines for the delivery of a quality service. It is hoped that its publication and on-going promotion at local level by the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs), will give greater impetus to the development of these important services. A special allocation of funding was made available to each CCC to enable the Committee to organise local conferences aimed at raising awareness of the initiative and the supports that are available.

Funding is available under the NCIP and the EOCP for the development of childcare facilities, including facilities with a specific focus on school age childcare, subject to qualifying conditions. Grants are available for renovating and upgrading identified spare capacity within a school premises and for the furnishing of such facilities.

Community not for profit and private sector childcare providers may apply for grant assistance of up to €1 million and €100,000 respectively, towards the capital cost of developing a childcare service in a catchment area where there is a demonstrated need. Key stakeholders have been asked to come forward with proposals for services, shaped around their particular local needs. Schools, groups or individuals interested in applying for school age childcare funding should contact their local CCC.

Full contact details for the CCCs are available on the OMC website at www.omc.gov.ie.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in the provision of 5,000 after-school places as outlined in the National Childcare Investment Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28054/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the newly established Office of the Minister for Children.

The need to support the further development of childcare services for children of school-going age, including before and after school hours and out of school terms, is an important objective of both the EOCP and the NCIP.

The NCIP aims to provide a proactive response to the development of quality childcare supports and services which will be planned for and developed locally and centred on the needs of the child and the family.

At present, there is a transition period between EOCP funding and NCIP funding, and a number of applications for the new Programme have been provisionally approved, and are expected to go to contract shortly.

Increased resources have also been approved for the 33 City and County Childcare Committees, to enable them play their enhanced role under the Programme.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in developing a new training strategy for childcare workers as outlined in the National Childcare Investment Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28055/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Proposals for the process of development of the National Childcare Training Strategy are currently under consideration. It is envisaged that this process will build on the work of the Certifying Bodies Subgroup of the National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee, which drew up a Model Framework for childcare training in 2002. The process will be fully inclusive of all stakeholders who will provide a vital input into the development of the strategy.