Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of full-time and part-time child care places made available to participants attending back to education initiative, FÁS, VTOS and Youthreach training courses during the 2009/10 academic year on a county basis; the number of full-time and part-time child care places made available to participants attending back to education initiative, FÁS, VTOS and Youthreach training courses in the 2010/11 academic year under the new child care education and training support scheme on a county by county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34505/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The new Childcare Education and Training Scheme (CETS) was introduced in September of this year and is being implemented by my Office, on behalf of FÁS and the Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) under the Department of Education and Science. The CETS scheme replaces the previous childcare support schemes implemented by FÁS and the VECs under which qualifying students and trainees were given a weekly Childcare Allowance of up to €63.50 per child as a contribution to their childcare costs. Under the new CETS scheme, qualifying students and trainees can avail of childcare places free of charge.

The eligibility criteria are unchanged and continue to be determined by FÁS and the VECs. The number of childcare places available under the new scheme is also unchanged and, at almost 3,000 full-time equivalent places, is based on the number of Childcare Allowances paid by FÁS and the VECs in respect of qualified parents in the 2009/10 academic year.

Information in regard to the number and location of childcare places claimed in the 2009/2010 academic year was compiled by FÁS and the Department of Education & Skills earlier this year and provided to my Office in order to put the new arrangements in place and allocate CETS places to services which were accepted into the scheme. Some adjustments to the initial allocations have since been made to take account of the actual demand in each area as students and trainees with childcare requirements commence courses. However, the total figures for each county remain largely similar in 2010.2011 to the numbers which applied in 2009/2010.

The breakdown of full-time and part-time places awarded in each county is shown in the table below. In addition to the places shown, a number of childcare places for FÁS trainees were held in reserve and are being allocated to particular locations to meet any increases in demand which arise. The number of places held in reserve and not yet allocated currently stands at 213 full-time equivalent childcare places.

In addition, as an interim measure in 2010/2011, the Department of Education & Skills is continuing to pay Childcare Allowance of up to €63.50 per week, to students who were in receipt of this payment in 2009/2010 and wish to continue under this arrangement in 2010/2011 to retain the service of a Childminder rather than avail of a free childcare place under the new scheme. Approximately 200 full-time equivalent childcare places are being funded under this measure.