Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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272. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if persons leaving community employment schemes to take up employment, qualify for the after-school child care scheme; if not, the reason why not; and if consideration will be given to revising the scheme, to allow this category of person to avail of the scheme. [17366/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The After-school Childcare (ASCC) programme was introduced by the Department of Social Protection and my Department to support low-income and unemployed people who wish to avail of employment opportunities. The Department of Social Protection, who determine eligibility for the programme, has confirmed that parents participating in a Community Employment scheme are not entitled to avail of the ASCC support as there is a separate programme, the Community Employment Childcare programme, which caters for participants in Community Employment schemes. However, the Department also confirmed that parents are entitled to support under the ASCC programme when their participation in the Community Employment scheme ends and they proceed to take up employment, once they satisfy the eligibility criteria for the ASCC programme.

Parents should contact their local Department of Social Protection office if they have queries in relation to their eligibility for the ASCC programme.