James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she proposes putting in place supports for parents who may no longer be able to avail of the traditional au pair role given the recent clarification by the Work Relations Commission that au pairs are not exempted or treated as separate categories of workers under Irish employment law and that Ireland’s body of employment rights legislation protects all employees who are legally employed on an employer-employee basis, regardless of what title is given to them and additional supports. [14853/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Issues relating to the Workplace Relations Commission and au pair contracts are in the first instance a matter for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

The extent to which the decision of the Workplace Relations Commission decision will impact on the numbers of families who rely on au pairs for their child-minding requirements is not yet known. The report of the Interdepartmental Group on Future Investment in Childcare found that au pairs or nannies comprise a small percentage of childcare arrangements. The 'Growing Up in Ireland' longitudinal study indicated in December 2011 that one percent of nine-month-olds, and one percent of three-year-olds are cared for by au pairs or nannies.

I encourage parents who are impacted by the Workplace Relations Commission decision to make contact with their local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC) if they require advice or support with childcare choices or indeed for information on subsidies to which they may be entitled. CCCs are available in 30 locations across Ireland. Childminding Ireland may also be able to assist in finding a registered childminder.

My Department operates a number of schemes that provided subsidised childcare. These schemes primarily support childcare in formal settings such as preschools and creches. However some programmes are also delivered by registered childminders.

My priority as Minister for Children and as set out in the Programme for Government is to make high quality affordable childcare available to those who need it. This includes children from 9 months of age to 36 months, and children who need care after school. The expansion of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme from September of this year by an additional 23 weeks, on average, represents a significant step forward, and I hope to build on this in the coming years.