David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of childminders who availed of the income tax exemption scheme in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5881/07]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of inquiries and the number of voluntary notifications respectively received by the child care committees from childminders wishing to avail of the income tax exemption; the breakdown of same per child care committee area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5880/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 80 together.

To apply for the Childcare Services Relief, Childminders are obliged to make an annual tax return of their childminding 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 Childminding Advisory Officer that they are providing a childminding 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 the end of November 2006 are summarised in the table below.

The first tax year for which this tax exemption 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.