Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the contact she has had with lone parents groups regarding the inter-departmental subgroup on school-age care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46096/12]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the contact she has had with lone parents groups regarding the inter-departmental subgroup on school-age care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46094/12]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 17 July 2012, when the details of the best possible model for enhancing the provision of school-age childcare and accompanying proposals will be submitted to Government; when she intends to publish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46098/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 302, 348 and 349 together.

The inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on school-age child care, chaired by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and comprising of representatives from both the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) – which is the lead Department in relation to child care policy and provision- and the Department of Education and Skills (DES), is presently examining the needs and provision of school-age child care in the country. The role of the IDG is to explore the best possible model for enhancing the provision of school-age child care to assist in meeting the child care needs of the customers of the DSP – including lone parents. The model in question will seek to address the child care requirements of children aged between 7 and 12 years (inclusive) and will also address the level of child care provision required during both the school term and the school holidays.

Extensive work has been completed by the IDG to quantify the level of school-age child care required to support the relevant social welfare income support recipients, in particular lone parents, for each year up to and including 2015. An examination has been completed of existing child care schemes and of the capital investments already made by the DCYA in this sector. The IDG intends to submit proposals on school-age child care to the Government for its consideration in due course.

Officials from my Department have also met with some of the lone parent representative groups to discuss a number of issues that are affecting lone parents – including their initial views in relation to child care. In addition to this work, I have had the opportunity, with my officials, to examine the Swedish child care system. The information and experience gained from that examination, will provide valuable input to the on-going work of the IDG.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a report on her recent international trip to Scandinavia to explore a working childcare model and potential application of same here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46097/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I recently visited Sweden to study and discuss a number of issues of interest to me. I am particularly interested in the childcare system that Sweden has put in place and I very much wanted the opportunity to examine the system to establish what Ireland could learn from that model.

The school I visited is a Reggio Emilia-inspired pre-school on the suburbs of Stockholm. The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy that is focused on pre-school and primary education. The approach is based on the principles of respect, responsibility and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment that is centred on the interests of the children and structured around a self-guided curriculum. The natural development of children is at the centre of its philosophy. Parental involvement is also central to the philosophy.

The school is very much a central part of the community and allows parents to avail of work and/or educational opportunities while their children are being cared for. There are many aspects of the Swedish childcare system that are very impressive. However, a more detailed examination of this and other international systems would be required to establish the most appropriate model for Ireland.