Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the financial supports she intends to put in place to assist full-time working parents who pay fees for children provision who are outside the bands of the community childcare subvention scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29863/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, which is implemented by my Department, provides funding to community-based childcare services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments and working parents who may also qualify.

For the purpose of the CCS programme, eligibility is determined by reference to a range of means-tested allowances and payments including receipt of a social welfare payment, Family Income Supplement (FIS) and qualification for a medical or GP visit card. Eligibility for a GP visit card is based on net income and takes account of outgoings such as rent and mortgage repayments and other expenses including childcare costs and travelling expenses. As a result, parents with middle incomes may also benefit from subvention.

At present, my Department does not operate any other scheme to specifically assist working parents, who do not qualify for support under the CCS programme, with the cost of childcare. However this matter will be kept under review, in particular, in the context of future budgetary discussions. My Department also implements the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which provides one free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Children aged between 3 years 2 months and 4 years 6 months at 1 September in the relevant year qualify for a maximum of 15 hours per week free pre-school provision over a 38 week period. This is a universal programme to which all parents have access.