Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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338. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the report Use of Community Employment Places in Community Childcare by Childcare Committees Ireland 2013 which concluded that current community employment schemes are not fit for purpose for community childcare services due to scheme payment changes, insufficient financial rewards, high cost of childcare and transport, four to eight months vacancy of posts and a 28% vacancy rate; the way she intends to reverse the current downward trend of the sustainability of these community employment schemes due to these changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20391/13]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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339. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to speak with the Childcare Committee Ireland in relation to their report entitled Use of Community Employment Places in Community Childcare 2013 and if she will introduce revised arrangements that address the issues of childcare costs, adequate and sufficient training opportunities, quality of CE scheme since changes, suitability of applicants and broadening the qualification to include unemployed youth under 25 years of age, Garda vetting delays, scheme eligibility issues, scheme payment issues, insufficient rewards and re-entry in social welfare system concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20392/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 339 together.

Officials from the Department have met with the Childcare Committee Ireland (CCI) in relation to their Report and in relation to the Department’s proposed changes to improve the quality of training provision and work experience for CE participants who wish to pursue a career in childcare. These changes include a review of the entry requirements to ensure suitable applicants with an interest and commitment to a career in childcare get the opportunity to gain valuable qualifications in the childcare sector. This will promote a career progression path and support the structure for CE workers in Early Services.

These improvements will provide a more tailored and valuable support to the provision of community childcare and achieve greater coherence between participation on CE and the job market. The Childcare Committee Ireland has broadly welcomed these improvements.

It should be noted that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for the quality of childcare provision and the Department supports this through the provision of childcare places on CE. The Department is committed to best practice in recruitment and selection procedures which includes Garda vetting. I am aware of the increase in the time taken to process applications in recent months this matter has been drawn to the attention of the department concerned and the Garda Central Vetting Unit.

The Department of Social Protection is improving the provision of training and work experience for participants on CE overall. These improvements reflect the findings of a number of recent reviews – the “CE Financial Review of Schemes” (2012) and the “Review of the Department of Social Protection Employment Support Schemes” (2012). In response, the Department is planning a number of improvements which will provide a clear progression path and a structure for CE participants. There are no plans to extend the eligibility criterion relating to age at entry to 21 years.

The Department will continue to review schemes to ensure that there are adequate supports available to assist jobseekers and other disadvantaged groups and that the maximum utilisation and value is gained from Community Employment participation.