144 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to increase the child care grant awarded to VTOS students in view of the ever increasing child care and crèche costs and in further view of the fact that this grant has not been increased in five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32440/06]

My Department provides funding to VECs to assist towards the child care expenses of participants in certain further education programmes, one of which is the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS). The other programmes are Youthreach and Senior Traveller Training.

The grant is intended as a contribution to costs and the amount of grant that each VEC receives is determined by reference to the number of students it has enrolled on these programmes who require assistance with child care and the total amount provided to the Department for this purpose. VECs determine the level of child care provision and also have the discretion to bridge any gap between the Department's grant and actual costs they approve.

Expenditure by my Department on further education child care grants to VECs has grown from €3.25m in 2001 to €5.45m in 2005. The provision for 2006 is €5.69m