Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people employed by community child care groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26152/07]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The National Childcare Census which was carried out in 1999/2000 reported that 2,027 paid staff, of which 732 were full time and 1,295 were part time, were employed by community services at that time. A further 1,235 trainee staff were employed in community services under the Community Employment and Jobs Initiative Schemes. To put these figures in context the Census also reported that 4,248 paid staff, of which 2,163 were full time and 2,085 were part time, were employed in the private sector.

Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), all grant recipients are asked to respond to a detailed annual survey. While the survey does not cover the whole sector, it does provide a valuable snapshot of current trends in the sector. In 2006, the most recent survey, questionnaires were issued to 1,575 grant recipients of which 1,208 (76.7%) were returned. From the information returned, which is summarised in the following table, it is clear that the number of childcare staff employed by both community and private sector providers has increased significantly (155%) under the Programme.