Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the position held by her Department whereby all applications for child care subvention have to be submitted electronically and that this requires that at the time of submission the provider be on-line; her views on the fact that community groups that do not have an Internet connection have had to make alternative arrangements to proceed with their submission; the way community groups can plan ahead when they are not informed of the amount of funding that they will receive; if she will take steps to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35058/08]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties that have arisen in respect of the administration of the new child care subvention scheme and that where subvention was granted in 2008 to cover the period June to December 2008, there is no possibility to request more funding which is presenting difficulties for both parents and provider; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that with the change in economic climate, parents, who previously were not eligible for subvention, have had a change in circumstances since 2007 and now qualify for the subvention; if in view of the fact that the current system does not allow for this change she will take steps to have same amended to facilitate the new situation. [35059/08]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the deceleration forms for 2009 child care subvention had to be submitted electronically by 26 September 2008, that same does not allow for new enrolments, and in the circumstances providers are requested to submit information based on current child attendance; her plans to ensure that where providers are aware of additional children starting between September 2008 and January 2009 that these can be included in this submission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35061/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 to 130, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 — 2010 (NCIP) under which the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) was introduced in January of this year.

The CCSS is open to community-based childcare services to enable them to provide reduced childcare fees to parents who qualify under the scheme as disadvantaged or on low income. Participating services are required to apply for funding in September in respect of the following calendar year. As part of its application, the service is required to forward declaration forms completed by parents of children attending the service, who hope to qualify for reduced childcare fees. The service is also required to provide a summary of service-related details. To facilitate services in making applications for grant funding, an electronic system for returns was introduced in September of this year. While this has been generally welcomed by childcare services in the CCSS, if a service demonstrates that it has a particular difficulty in using the electronic system a hard copy application will be accepted by my Office.

The amount of funding a service qualifies for is assessed on the basis of the information provided by it each September. The service is expected to use the grant funding to implement a tiered fee system with all qualifying parents benefiting from the appropriate subvention rates. A service would not normally be expected to have any difficulty in this regard, however, if a significant change in the parent profile arises during the course of the year, it can apply for a review of its funding level.

I wish to advise the Deputy that, in advance of the introduction of the new electronic return system, three regional briefing sessions were organised by the Childcare Directorate of my Office for the staff of the 33 City and County Childcare Committees (CCC), to enable them to assist and advise CCSS applicants with any queries regarding accessing or using the electronic return facility. I understand that the CCCs are also facilitating applicants who do not have access to computer or broadband facilities by allowing them to use facilities within their offices.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that to date almost 80% of services applying for funding under the CCSS for 2009 have made their electronic return and my Office is continuing to receive returns.