Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 783: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the criteria for the distribution of places on the child-care education and training support programme; the way the 2,800 places are distributed by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41268/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme was introduced in September 2010 and is implemented by my Department. The CETS programme provides free childcare places to qualifying FÁS and Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) trainees and students.

Under the CETS programme, funding is provided by my Department to participating childcare services in return for the provision of free childcare places to qualifying students and trainees. The maximum weekly capitation fee payable under the programme is €170 for a full-time childcare 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 a maximum of approximately 2800 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 table below outlines the number of places being paid for in each county under the programme on 10 January 2012.

Table: Total number of places being paid for in each county in CETS programme on 10 January 2012

These figures are a snapshot and may increase or decrease to some extent from week to week.