Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide child care facilities in vocational educational committee schools here. [11896/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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As part of a commitment in Budget 2010, the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme was introduced in September 2010 by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to support students and trainees participating in certain FÁS and Vocational Education Committee (VEC) further education and training programmes. The CETS programme is expected to transfer shortly to the new Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Under the CETS programme, qualifying students and trainees can avail of free childcare places in daycare services across the country, including those operated by VECs, for the duration of their courses. Up to 1,000 service providers are participating in the programme and up to 2,800 full-time childcare places are available each year. Services participating in the programme are paid a capitation fee of €170 per week for each full-time place contracted under the programme at a cost of up to €24 million per annum. The operation of the CETS programme is being kept under review.