Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of child care places provided by year end of 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006, for the equivalent period in 2005 and a forecast for year ending 2006; and the number of these in RAPID and CLÁR designated areas for the same periods. [38417/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will appreciate child care is a very diverse and complex sector of the economy encompassing a range of services including sessional services such as playgroups, Naíonraí, Montessori Schools and Steiner Kindergartens; full day care services in nurseries and crèches; childminding and services for children of school going age outside of usual school hours and during school holidays. In this regard information is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy.

However, comprehensive statistics are available on the activities of services supported under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006. This Programme has been a central pillar of the Government's Childcare Strategy over the period and has contributed to the steady expansion of services for parents engaged in education, training or employment. The following table sets out the total number of places in services supported under the Programme, the total number of new places created under the Programme and the new places created in services in RAPID/CLÁR designated areas.