Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider opening up State run programmes such as CETS to child minders who provide a vital service particularly in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12183/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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At present childminders are excluded from participating in the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme. In the absence of additional funding to provide for extra CETS places, there are no plans to change this position. Future developments relating to early years care and education, including the design of schemes and eligibility of providers, will be considered during the preparation of the new National Early Years Strategy which is currently being developed by my Department.