Written answers
Wednesday, 7 December 2016
Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Child Care Services Provision
Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 23 November 2016, if she has consulted with the Data Protection Commissioner on PPSN use, data sharing provisions and changes to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 that will be made in the new primary legislation proposed; if she will provide a description of the Data Protection Commissioner's views or recommendations; and if she has received approval from the Commissioner to make these changes to data sharing that will be required. [38909/16]
Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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In order to make the application process for the Affordable Childcare Scheme as easy as possible for parents, it is intended that the means-testing will, in most cases, be carried out through an automatic link with income data held by the Revenue Commissioners and by the Department of Social Protection. However, parents will be able to appeal decisions and/or request a manual means test by the delegated scheme administrator, which will require the submission of documentary evidence of income and relevant deductible expenses. The use of the PPS number and data sharing across public bodies and agencies will be enabled and supported through legislation and formal data sharing agreements.
The primary legislation will take account of all necessary amendments to existing legislation, including any changes which may be required to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2015. A national consultation process on the policy proposals for the scheme has just concluded. Further detailed consultation will take place with all relevant parties, as deemed necessary throughout the legislative development process.
Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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288. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 23 November 2016, when she expects to bring this legislation before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and the date this legislation will have to be commenced for the administrative system for the new scheme to be in place by September 2017. [38910/16]
Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The new Affordable Childcare Scheme will be introduced to provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The scheme will be set out in primary legislation, encompassing:
- clear and detailed rules for the assessment of income and the provision of subsidies;
- clearly prescribed authority in relation to the sharing of data across public bodies and administrators; and
- comprehensive provisions in relation to the powers and obligations of the scheme administrator
Officials in my department are currently drafting Heads of Bill for the scheme, which are at an advanced stage. It is intended to bring the Heads of Bill to Government for approval early in the new year. Thereafter, the precise timeframe for the drafting of the legislation and its passage through the Houses will be subject to the usual considerations regarding scheduling and allocation of parliamentary time. It is intended that legislation would be in place in early summer.
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