Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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593. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the varying levels of fees being charged by different creches to parents with children in the community childcare subvention programme; the steps she will take to ensure that charges are not a barrier to parents with low incomes availing of childcare under this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25132/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community childcare not-for-profit services to enable them to charge reduced childcare rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments or on low or modest incomes. The CCS programme, which is provided through more than 900 community services throughout the country, is a major support programme for parents. Approximately 19,500 families are availing of the CCS programme in the current school year at an estimated cost of €50 million.

Community childcare services qualify for grant aid on the basis of the level of service they provide and the profile of the parents benefiting from their service. 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, low and middle income working parents may qualify for support.

In the case of full day care, parents qualifying for the higher rate of subvention under the CCS programme can have up to €95 per week deducted from the overall charge for childcare in the participating childcare facility. The overall charge is based on the total costs incurred by the facility in providing the service and can vary depending on what the level of overhead costs are. However, all services participating in the CCS programme must submit a fees policy to my Department before funding under the CCS programme is provided in order to ensure that the full value of the subvention provided by my Department is passed on to the parent(s). Any parent with concerns in relation to fees charged can raise the issue with the local County Childcare Committee or with the Childcare Directorate in my Department.