Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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364. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the ongoing efforts, if any, to liaise with the Minister for Children with a view to providing in-house afterschool services in all primary schools throughout the country to ensure seamless transition between education and care facilities for all children, and given the necessity for both parents to remain in employment due to high mortgages; if it is anticipated that this issue is being provided for in a meaningful way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53140/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you for your further enquiry on this matter.

As stated previously, funding for pre-school services is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy responsibility for school-age childcare.

By way of information, generally capital funding by the Department of Education is reserved for the provision of mainstream school accommodation for primary education upwards, as well as for children with special educational needs.

It is, however, Department of Education policy to support the wider use of school facilities, for community usage, where possible. In 2017 my Department published 'Guidelines for the Use of School Buildings Outside of School Hours'. These guidelines are currently being updated and the new Procedures (as they are now called) are expected to be published very shortly.