Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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565. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the capital and grant funding available for investment in childcare facilities and areas under her remit in 2013; if she will outline the various programmes that will be open for application in 2013; the funding available for each and for what purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2297/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2012 the Government provided €6 million for remedial, maintenance, and renovation work and/or to purchase equipment for early education and childcare services. This funding has been allocated. A capital allocation of €3.25m for childcare facilities is available to my Department in 2013, and I am currently considering how this allocation can best be utilised for the benefit of the childcare sector.

My Department does however continue to provide support to parents to assist them with the daily cost of childcare. This support is provided through the provision of two targeted childcare support programmes - the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme - and the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.

The CCS programme provides funding to community-based childcare services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments. 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, middle and low income working parents may also qualify for support. Parents who qualify for the top rate of subvention under the programme receive €95 per week towards full-day childcare costs.

The CETSprogramme provides €145 towards the weekly cost of full time childcare places for trainees and students whose children are enrolled in a participating service and who are deemed qualified by FÁS or the VEC to qualify for childcare support under the programme. Students on part-time courses are funded on a pro-rata basis.

The ECCE programme provides one free preschool 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 preschool provision over a 38 week period. This is a universal programme to which all children have access.

In 2012, the total expenditure by my Department on these three programmes was in the region of €240 million. These programmes have been maintained despite the ongoing need to reduce Government expenditure and they represent a significant investment in supporting parents with the cost of childcare.

You may also be aware that, as part of Budget 2013, I and my colleague the Minister for Social Protection announced a joint school-age childcare initiative which will provide further support to both the community and the private childcare sector. This initiative, which represents a full year investment of €14 million, will provide important support to parents in low income families wishing to take up employment, along with ensuring that quality after-school care is in place to support children's development.

Future developments relating to early years care and education will be considered during preparation of the new National Early Years Strategy which is currently being developed by my Department and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2013. This Strategy will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life such as health, family support, learning and development and care and education and will identify the structures and policies needed to improve early year's experience in Ireland.