Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 676: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the grants or supports available to creches that have been set up but have not availed of any grants to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20376/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government currently supports the provision of early childhood care and education through three support programmes - the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme. These programmes are implemented by my Department.

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Children qualify for the free pre-school year where they are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1st September in the relevant year. Both community and commercial childcare services are eligible to apply to participate in this programme.

The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community childcare not-for-profit services to enable them to charge reduced childcare rates to low income and disadvantaged families. Community childcare services qualify for grant aid on the basis of the level of service they provide and the profile of the parents benefitting from their service. Because of the current budgetary situation there will be no approvals for new childcare places under this programme in 2012.

The Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme was introduced in September 2010. The CETS programme provides free childcare places in both community and commercial services to qualifying FÁS and Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) trainees and students. Again, due to the budgetary situation, no approvals for new childcare places are currently being made under this programme