Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of childminders availing of the tax break for childminders introduced in budget 2006, the number in total and the breakdown by county; the explanation she received for the relatively low level of take up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41866/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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To apply for the Childcare Services Relief, Childminders are obliged to make an annual tax return of their child minding income to the Revenue Commissioners. For tax exemption purposes, Childminders must also provide evidence that they have notified their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC), through the local Child minding Advisory Officer that they are providing a child minding service.

The number of voluntary notifications made by Childminders to the CCCs since the introduction of the Childcare Services Relief in December 2005 has been monitored by my Office on a regular basis. The latest figures available as of 1 September 2006 are summarised in the table. Figures for the period to 1 December 2006 are being collated and are expected to be available shortly.

The first tax year for which this Relief applies is 2006 and tax returns for 2006 must be made by the end of October 2007. Until that time, the final take-up of this initiative cannot be fully established.