Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received submissions in respect of the closure of an after-school care service (details supplied); if he will ensure this service remains available to students and parents, given the high number of families who utilise it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16398/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In general, school authorities have a considerable degree of autonomy in relation to how their premises are managed and utilised at local level. The use of school facilities must be approved by the school authority. In the case of the school referred to, I understand that my Department has not received submissions in respect of the closure of this particular afterschool care service.

In 2005, my Department issued a circular to Trustees, Boards of Management and Principals of Primary and Voluntary Secondary Schools (Circular Letter Prim 16/05) to encourage Trustees and Boards of Management to make their facilities available where possible for community, education and recreation purposes. This circular recognises that the decision ultimately lies with the relevant Board or Trustees and that the first priority at all times should be the interest of the school, its teachers and pupils.

As you may be aware, there are key commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government (May 2016) in relation to encouraging the use of school buildings in this respect. 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 schools who wish to make their facilities available as part of the range of options available to parents where there is demand.

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. 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.

A cross-departmental group is meeting regularly to 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.