Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the suggestions by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation that related capital investment will be necessary if the programme for Government commitment on having schools available for child care services can be successfully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10684/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with key commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government (May 2016) in relation to establishing a quality system of school age childcare, my Department is working closely with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in considering 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. A cross-departmental group is now finalising an Action Plan for School Age Childcare which has been considered by me and my colleague, Minister Zappone, T.D. and will be published shortly. The Action Plan contains a commitment that my Department will engage further with the relevant education stakeholders and school property owners to formulate guidelines for schools to facilitate the use of school buildings out-of-hours.

There is no provision contained in this year’s budget for additional capital investment by my Department specifically in relation to pre-school and after-school services. In general, capital funding by my Department is reserved for provision of school accommodation for primary education upwards. Funding for pre-school services is a matter for either my Colleague, the Minister for or the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.