Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children currently availing of the free after-school child care scheme. [29448/15]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of places that will be available under the free after-school child care scheme for the 38-week period of 2015-16, commencing in September 2015. [29449/15]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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185. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the system in place for transporting children from school to after-school child care provided through the free after-school child care scheme; if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the counties availing of the scheme and by the number of participants. [29450/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 185, inclusive, together.

The After-School Childcare (ASCC) programme provides after-school care for primary school children of eligible parents for a period of 52 weeks. Eligibility for the programme is determined by the Department of Social Protection. The programme contributes €40 per week for an after-school place or €80 per week in situations where the childcare service provides a pick-up service that collects the child from school. The programme also provides a full day care rate of €105 per week, for a maximum of 10 weeks, to cater for school holiday periods. In all cases, the maximum fee payable by parents is €15 per week per child.

This year 433 children are availing of the after-school programme with 339 of these children availing of a pick-up service. A breakdown of these figures on a county basis is shown on the attached table. Funding will be available to support a similar number of children next year but the numbers seeking support under the programme in 2015/2016 will only become evident as the school year progresses.