Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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253. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children enrolled under band D of the more affordable child care scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45202/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I presume the Deputy is referring to the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) schemes.

As the Deputy will be aware, all CCS registrations are currently provisional as the snap shot period will only close today (25th of October). At present, there are 389 children provisionally registered under band D.

With regard to CCSP, 230 individual children have been approved for this program year.

Families availing of band D include families with a GP visit card and parents who no longer qualify for band A or band AJ this year but who were verified as being on band A and AJ at the end of the previous preschool year. The full day payment under band D is €50, the same as was in place for the programme year 16/17 under band B. The bands were spilt to ensure that resources were distributed in an appropriate manner to those most in need.