Written answers

Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Child Care Services Provision

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the suggestions by an organisation (details supplied) 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. [24942/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard 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 encouraging the use of school buildings outside school hours, 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.

Draft guidelines on the use of school buildings out of hours are currently being prepared and will be made available further to consultation with relevant school authorities and trustees.

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 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.

The provision of funding for childcare services is a matter for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.  An interdepartmental group with senior officials from both my Department and from DCYA finalised an Action Plan for School age Childcare which was published in early March 2017. Under the plan, capital funding of €3m is being made available by DCYA to support increased capacity for the provision of school age childcare as well for improving the quality of the service provided by existing school age childcare services.  A Working Group has also been established by DCYA to develop a comprehensive set of quality standards for school age childcare. The first meeting of the Working Group took place on 17 May 2017.  The Action Plan is available on .

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