John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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85. To ask the Minister for Social Protection regarding the after-school child care scheme, if there are proposals to include participants (details supplied) of the Tús work placement initiative to avail of this service and to include children under five years of age who have not yet attained school-going age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17491/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The after-school child care scheme (ASCC) supports low-income unemployed people to return to the workforce. The scheme provides subsidised after-school childcare places to people with children of primary school age who find employment, increase the number of days they work or take up a place on an employment support scheme (with the exception of a community employment scheme).

The after-school childcare scheme is currently available to customers who take up a place on a Tús scheme and has been available to these customers since July 2014. The community employment (CE) scheme is excluded from the after-school scheme as the CE childcare programme is available for these customers and provides subsidised childcare for CE participants.

The provision of subsidised childcare is a matter for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (D/CYA).

The D/CYA has established an inter-Departmental group at senior level in order to carry out an analysis of policies and future options for increasing the supply, accessibility, and affordability of quality child care, including early years and school-age care. This group is led by the D/CYA and includes representatives from a number of Departments including the Department of Social Protection.

The Government's Spring Economic Statement also acknowledges that a successful childcare policy helps people make the transition from welfare to employment. The interdepartmental group's report will be a key input in determining the future of childcare provision in Ireland.