Childcare cutbacks hurt single mothers

Education Correspondent

The 23-year-old was about to begin a two-year diploma course in social care at Whitehall College, in the hope of returning to work. But when she called into the college last week, she was told the childcare grant she was eligible for in April had been stopped.

“I’d just paid 600 as a month’s advance to the creche, but without the grant of 63.50 a week I can’t afford to keep Ally there. Even with help from the health board I was going to have to pay more than 50 a week out of my own pocket,” said Danielle, from Swords, Co Dublin.

She did a diploma in community care after school, but wanted to get further education to improve her work chances and escape of the social welfare trap she feels she is in.

“I just want to make a better life for myself and my daughter but the Government is passing on the message that people raising children alone aren’t worth getting back to the workplace,” she said.

Her story is similar to that of hundreds of mothers hoping to take further education courses around the country. The Department of Education has cut grants by an average of 37% for childcare to Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The VECs run the courses and either provide creche facilities or give students grants for childcare.

The Teachers Union of Ireland, whose members work in the affected colleges, organised a demonstration against the cuts outside the department’s office in Dublin yesterday.

“Equality of access to the education system is being undermined once again for the educationally disadvantaged, especially for women,” said TUI executive member Marie Humphries.

Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association, has sought an urgent meeting with Education Minister Noel Dempsey to try and resolve the childcare funding crisis.

“There are women who might have come back to do the Leaving Certificate last year but now can’t finish it because of this situation,” he said.

A Department of Education spokesperson said the VECs must fund childcare within the grants they each received earlier this year. More than 1,300 students benefited from 4.7m made available in 2002, but just under 3m was allocated this year.

The Union of Students in Ireland president Will Priestley said the latest Government cutback will secure nominal savings, while destroying the futures of those affected.