Written answers

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Department of Education and Skills

After-School Support Services

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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301. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his upcoming three year strategy, which will include increasing after-school hours, will take into consideration the after-school care providers; the impact these changes will have on this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12821/16]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The upcoming strategy reflects the key commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government (May 2016). The Programme includes commitments assigned to the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs relating to improving the range and quality of options for parents for afterschool care for school-age children. We have undertaken to consider how to facilitate the use of school buildings as part of the range of options available to parents.

The two Departments now propose to build on their existing collaborative partnership to deliver those commitments in a coherent way and to align relevant bodies of work under their respective areas of responsibility.

Within two weeks, senior officials will meet to agree terms of reference for a cross-departmental working group. The two Departments will develop a joint proposal for my consideration and the consideration of my colleague in government, Minister Zappone, T.D, within 100 days.

As part of this work, the Group will consider and assess the following, using existing and new material and consulting with partners as appropriate:

- Capacity and demand for services

- Children's views on afterschool care

- An appropriate quality and standards framework

- The development of criteria for the capital scheme to be funded by DCYA under Budget 2016

- Estimated existing use of school buildings

- Collaborative models with existing community/private service providers

- Potential funding incentives for provision of services.

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