John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of funding provided to or expended by vocational education committee and/or other bodies under his remit on training for childcare staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15763/13]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of expenditure by vocational education committees on training for childcare staff, as reported in the annual returns from the vocational education committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15764/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together.

My Department provides funding to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and FÁS to provide a range of full-time and part-time further education and training (FET) courses, including courses in childcare to enable people to develop their skills or improve their existing skills to meet the changing needs of the labour market. Full time childcare courses are offered by VECs under the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme while part time or modular childcare courses are provided under the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) programme. In addition VECs also offer education courses, including childcare courses, under a self financing arrangement where the costs are met from fees charged to learners. VECs do not make returns to my Department on the cost of individual courses therefore the information requested by the Deputy is not available in relation to VECs. A range of childcare courses are also provided by FAS. Information in relation to funding provided for these courses is currently being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy when available.