Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 338: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if officials in her Department will be involved in discussions with the Department of Education and Skills in relation to the changes in childcare provision moving towards the Scandinavian model being introduced here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21304/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, 2012, which was enacted on 1 May, 2012, introduces changes to the structure of the one-parent family payment (OFP) and to the age of the youngest child at which the payment ceases. These changes are being brought in over time. From 3 May, 2012, the age of the youngest child is being reduced on a phased basis to 7 years for new recipients from 2014 and existing recipients from 2015. This phased reduction will not affect existing recipients until 2013.

Between now and 2015, the consequences of these changes will be examined on a cross-Departmental basis and in consultation with the various groups that represent lone parents nationwide in order to ensure that the required level of services are in place to support lone parents as their youngest child reaches the relevant age thresholds.

As part of this examination, discussions have already been taking place between officials from my Department, from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (which is the lead Department in child care policy) and from the Department of Education and Skills with regard to the development of a policy framework around school-age child care and, in the short-term, the assessment of the extent of the current provision of such care.

More specifically, an inter-Departmental group, chaired by my Department and comprising of representatives from both the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills, has been established to examine the provision of school-age child care. This group is currently assessing the needs and provision of school-age child care focusing initially on the needs of lone parents.