John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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721. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to provide parents of young children with information and details of the more affordable childcare scheme which is due to commence in September 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32950/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Information, eligibility and rates of subvention are available on the website www.affordablechildcare.ie, which was set up by my Department. This website, which has received over 170,000 page views since it was launched in mid-May, also includes the contact details for their local city/county Childcare Committee which provides support to parents and providers. Parents with children already in childcare should speak to their childcare provider as well.

Following on from a coordinated online and postal information campaign targeting both childcare providers and parents with key information about the measures, my Department along with Pobal and the City/County Childcare Committees hosted public information “roadshows” to build awareness and encourage providers to sign up the September measures. Approximately 1000 service providers attended these Roadshow Events in Limerick, Mullingar, Cavan, Galway, Sligo, Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork. All the CCCs have also provided information events at the request of the DCYA and each has informed the Department of an increased number of contacts from parents regarding eligibility for the new measures