Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current early childhood care and education scheme and school age child care capitation rates within the child care sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8694/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Approximately 67,000 children are availing of the provision in the current academic year.

The free pre-school provision represents an annual investment of approximately €175 million. The standard capitation fee paid to participating childcare services is €62.50 per week for each eligible child. A higher capitation fee of €73 per week is available to pre-school services with more highly qualified staff.

After-school childcare support is provided under a number of childcare support programmes implemented by this Department. Under the Childcare Education and Training Supports (CETS) programme, which supports parents on Solas and Education Training Board (ETB) training and education courses, €45 per week is provided to eligible parents for after-school care with €80 provided where a pick-up services is available. The maximum to be charged to a parent for the after-school provision is €15 per week.

The After-school Childcare (ASCC) programme introduced to support low-income and unemployed persons to return to the workforce contributes €40 per week. The maximum charge to the parent is €15 per week. Where a pick-up service is available €80 per week is provided. This programme provides after-school care for primary school children for certain categories of working parents for a once-off period of 52 weeks. The Department of Social Protection determines eligibility for the childcare places. Pro-rata rate applies for parents who require support over a shorter weekly period.

The Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme, which supports parents on Community Employment (CE) schemes, provides €40 per week to support parents with after-school care. The maximum charge to the parents is €15 per week.

The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, which provides support for sessional pre-school, full time, part time and after school places through community childcare facilities, is targeted at disadvantaged or low income families and eligibility for support is based on means-tested entitlements. The funding provided depends on the category or Band that applies to the parent and the length of time of the after-school session. A parent, for example, availing of after-school support for 1 hour and 15 minutes each day for 5 days and who is entitled to the highest category of payment, receives €31.35.