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Statement on the reported decision of certain VEC’s to close their crèches operations
The Department of Children & Youth Affairs wishes to clarify certain matters regarding reports relating to the decision of certain VEC’s to close crèches.
This is firstly an administrative matter for the VEC’s in question.
From time to time crèches, whether private, community or VEC may close for particular reasons, including higher than average running costs, falling numbers of children or over supply of crèches locally.
This Department of Children & Youth Affairs funds a range of childcare schemes which are open on an equitable and nationally consistent basis to community crèches, including VEC crèches and in many cases to private providers. These are the ECCE free preschool year, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and the Childcare Education and Training Scheme (CETS).
The CETS scheme is specifically targeted at meeting the childcare needs of FAS trainees and VEC students.
The Department currently pays the service €170 per week for each full time place.
The change being introduced in September 2012 will result in a payment of €145 per week (not €100 as has been reported) alongside the introduction of a parental contribution of a maximum of €25 per week for a full time childcare place, meaning that there will be no loss of income to the crèche.
The precise reasons for any particular crèche closure would need to be examined and understood in the context of administrative and staffing costs and other factors.