Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 282: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the terms of the child care employment and training support scheme (details supplied). [32898/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As part of Budget 2010, it was announced that the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) would explore, with my Department and FÁS, the potential to rationalise child care support schemes with the objective of delivering improved supports in a more efficient, transparent and equitable way.

Following discussions, the OMCYA established the Childcare Education and Training Scheme (CETS). The CETS commenced in September 2010 and is designed to provide free child care places to participants in a range of full-time and part-time VEC further education and FÁS training programmes. Under the previous child care support schemes, parents received a partial subsidy of child care costs.

In relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, officials in my Department have been in contact with the relevant VEC and the OMCYA in order to resolve this issue. I should note that the CETS is open to participants on the same range of programmes that the previous schemes had provided for, which includes participants in the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS).

The operation of the CETS will be kept under review by the OMCYA and my Department.