Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of child care employment and training support scheme places available to parents returning to approved courses in Mallow, County Cork; the designated child care facilities operating under this scheme in the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36331/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The new Childcare Education and Training Supports (CETS) scheme was introduced in September of this year and is being implemented by my Office, on behalf of FAS and the Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) under the Department of Education and Science.

The CETS scheme replaces the previous childcare support schemes implemented by FAS 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 FAS and the VECs.

Information in regard to the number and location of childcare places claimed in the 2009/2010 academic year was compiled by FAS 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.

Based on the information provided to this Office, 9 full time places are being allocated to two childcare services participating in the scheme in Mallow town with a further 10 full time and 5 part-time places allocated to four services operating in the general vicinity of the town. The two services located within Mallow town, Youthreach Training Centre creche and Rising Stars Childcare, made late applications to this Office in recent weeks to enter the scheme and, as a result, are still in the process of going to contract. However, I am informed that this will be completed shortly.