Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that funding for a specific purpose is put in place on time to ensure that applicants who are successful in being offered specific placements (details supplied) can take up their training placements; and if her attention has been drawn to the lack of communication and co-ordination between the agencies concerned which is resulting in many successful applicants not being able to accept their placement. [38970/11]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a serious delay in having funding for a specific purpose (details supplied) put in place on time which is causing many applicants who are successful in being offered specific placements to take up their training placements; and if she will investigate this and the lack of communication and co-ordination between the agencies concerned which is resulting in many successful applicants not being able to accept their placement. [38971/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 345 together.

The Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme was introduced in September last year and is implemented by my Department. The CETS programme provides free child care places to qualifying FÁS and Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) trainees and students.

Under the CETS programme, funding is provided by my Department to participating child care services in return for the provision of free child care places to qualifying students and trainees. The maximum weekly capitation fee payable under the programme is €170 for a full-time child care place with reduced amounts for parents availing of part-time or after-school care. The eligibility criteria under which students and trainees qualify under the programme is determined by FÁS and the VECs.

The CETS programme is funded on an annual basis and in the region of €23 million is allocated for 2011. This funding currently provides for some 2,800 full-time equivalent childcare places. This is the total provision under the programme and the places are allocated, when available, to students or trainees who are deemed to qualify by FÁS and the VECs.

The number of places allocated at present is at the limit provided for under the programme, as agreed with the Department of Finance in 2010, and it is not proposed to increase the number of places in the programme at this time. However, it is estimated that some 10% of CETS places will become available for re-allocation between now and the end of the month, and the local City and County Childcare Committees will assist my Department in matching these places with parents seeking them.