Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the low uptake in the number of childminders applying for the €630 State grant available to them; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that one of the main reasons given for same is that not enough is known about the grant; her views on an information campaign regarding the grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22978/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Childminder Development Grant was introduced in 2004 in conjunction with the Quality Awareness Programme (QAP) under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP). The QAP initiative is delivered at local level by the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and was widely publicised by them at the time of its introduction. The CCCs were established under the EOCP to assist in the development of a quality childcare infrastructure at local level. The intention of the QAP initiative was to raise quality awareness among existing and prospective Childminders through a Quality Awareness Lecture Programme and to encourage Childminders outside the scope of the Child Care (Pre-School Service) Regulations to notify their service to their local CCC or Childminder Advisory Officer. Childminders who voluntarily notify their service under the initiative, or who are notified to the HSE in accordance with the Child Care Regulations, may apply for the Childminder Development Grant. The grant is a small developmental grant of up to 90% of the total cost, subject to a maximum grant of €630, which can be used to buy safety equipment, toys or to make minor adjustments to the Childminder's home to enhance or establish the childminding service.

As the Deputy suggests, the numbers seeking the grant have been less than anticipated. While €1.89 million (i.e. funding for 3,000 grants) was made available for the grant scheme, at June 2006 the number of grants approved was 937. However in general terms, it is considered that the initiative, which also supports training, networking and the information needs of Childminders, has been very successful in terms of its contribution to building quality awareness among Childminders. This is reflected in the fact that 3,422 Childminders have attended the Quality Awareness Lecture Programme provided by the CCCs during this period. It is considered that the successful uptake of this strand of the QAP indicates that the initiative, which is promoted among Childminders at local level by the CCCs, is known to the Childminding sector but that their preference to date has been to avail of the Programme elements rather than the grant.

The National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010 which has been introduced as a successor programme to the EOCP will continue to support Childminders as well as helping to deliver quality childcare facilities and other supports to the sector generally. A review of the Childminder Initiative is expected to be undertaken in due course under the NCIP and any new development arising from such a review will be publicised and promoted by my Office and by the CCCs at local level to maximise interest and uptake.

In addition, the National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010 which was announced in the context of Budget 2006 includes the introduction of the Childminders Relief from income tax where the income from childminding does not exceed €10,000 per annum. To avail of the Relief, Childminders who are outside the scope of the Child Care Regulations are required to notify their services to their local CCC or Childminder Advisory Officer. This will further support the voluntary notification system operated by the CCCs as part of their work to support Childminders. I understand that since the Budget announcement in December 2005, some 318 voluntary notifications have been recorded by the CCCs and this figure is expected to increase further between now and the end of October 2007 when the first tax return in which the Relief may be claimed is due.

In addition, a set of National Guidelines for Childminders, prepared by the National Childcare Coordinating Committee, is expected to be published in the coming months by my Office and will provide an important resource to Childminders and to the CCCs in promoting good practice and increasing the voluntary notification of services. This in turn would be expected to stimulate further interest in the QAP and will help to inform any review which is undertaken.