Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 270: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of child care places and child care training places that will be created in County Monaghan under the upcoming national action plan for social inclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6140/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The new National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016, which I understand is to be launched later this week, incorporates the childcare target already set out in Towards 2016, that is, an infrastructure will be developed to provide quality, affordable childcare and an increase in the number of childcare places (of all types) by 100,000 over the period to 2016. The National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) will create 50,000 of these places.

It is intended that, between now and the end of 2010, the NCIP will respond to identified local needs for childcare and that resources under the programme will be targeted in a way which meets these needs. Therefore, the number and type of childcare places which will be created in a particular county will be determined having regard to local demand and changing demographic patterns.

In addition to the NCIP, targets for childcare training places have been set under the National Childcare Training Strategy with 17,000 childcare training places to be delivered during 2006-2010. At the moment, childcare training is delivered by a number of providers including FÁS, VECs and some third level institutions. As well as qualifications for people new to the sector, the Training Strategy will have to take into consideration the professional development of people already working in the sector. How training will be delivered in County Monaghan and throughout the country will be dependent on a number of factors, including the number of people already working in this sector, their existing qualifications and the capacity of training providers within the area. As in the case of childcare provision, rather than allocating training places by county, it is intended that the training places will be delivered on the basis of need.

To date, some €15 million has been allocated to County Monaghan in grants under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010 and its predecessor, the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP). This includes €1.5 million in funding to Monaghan County Childcare Committee which has a key role in the co-ordination of local quality childcare provision, including addressing gaps in childcare training provision in the county. Over 1800 childcare places are being supported in County Monaghan under the EOCP, including almost 1,050 new places created under the programme.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 271: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of child care places and child care training places that will be created in County Cavan in the upcoming national action plan for social inclusion; andif she will make a statement on the matter. [6141/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The new National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016, which I understand is to be launched later this week, incorporates the childcare target already set out in Towards 2016, that is, an infrastructure will be developed to provide quality, affordable childcare and an increase in the number of childcare places (of all types) by 100,000 over the period to 2016. The National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) will create 50,000 of these places.

It is intended that, between now and the end of 2010, the NCIP will respond to identified local needs for childcare and that resources under the programme will be targeted in a way which meets these needs. Therefore, the number and type of childcare places which will be created in a particular county will be determined having regard to local demand and changing demographic patterns.

In addition to the NCIP, targets for childcare training places have been set under the National Childcare Training Strategy with 17,000 childcare training places to be delivered during 2006-2010. At the moment, childcare training is delivered by a number of providers including FÁS, VECs and some third level institutions. As well as qualifications for people new to the sector, the Training Strategy will have to take into consideration the professional development of people already working in the sector. How training will be delivered in County Cavan and throughout the country will be dependent on a number of factors, including the number of people already working in this sector, their existing qualifications and the capacity of training providers within the area. As in the case of childcare provision, rather than allocating training places by county, it is intended that the training places will be delivered on the basis of need.

To date, some €11 million has been allocated to County Cavan in grants under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010 and its predecessor, the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP). This includes €1.5 million in funding to Cavan County Childcare Committee which has a key role in the co-ordination of local quality childcare provision, including addressing gaps in childcare training provision in the county. Since 2004, the Cavan County Childcare Committee has offered more than 30 training courses attended by over 350 participants. Almost 1600 childcare places are being supported in County Cavan under the EOCP, including almost 950 new places created under the programme.