Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

39. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the childcare needs in the zero to two years of age group will be addressed in Dublin 1 in view of the concerns of public health nurses. [18607/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand the Deputy is referring to issues around childcare supports in Dublin 1, particularly for lone parents and parents wishing to return to education.

I am aware of issues relating to the availability of early years places in that area and officials from my Department are in fact scheduled to meet with stakeholders this week to discuss them.

Dublin City Childcare Committee, which is funded by my Department, is also available to parents and childcare providers who may require assistance regarding capacity issues and access to various programmes offered by my Department.

My Department operates a number of childcare programmes which may be of assistance to families of very young children in the area.

Targetedprogrammes include:

The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS)which provides support for parents on low income to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating community childcare services. Eligible children can only be registered during a snapshot period and can avail of up to €145 per week.

The Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP)does likewise but is available from privately owned childcare services also, and eligible children can be registered at any time during the year.

The Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) Programmessupport parents on eligible training courses, as well as categories of parents returning to work.

In September 2017, I introduced a new universal subsidy, which is available for all children aged between 6 months and 3 years of age in registered childcare. This amounts to €1040 per annum.

The provision of childcare services for children under 2 poses extra demands for providers in that, for example, they require higher staff ratios.

I continue to seek to support providers in this regard and build additional capacity nationally via a number of initiatives. These include higher subsidy levels under the forthcoming Affordable Childcare Scheme, and capital grants in 2018 to build extra capacity for this age group.