James Reilly pledges generous plan for childcare

A generous childcare package to extend parental leave, pre-school care and to pay private creche fees for parents is being considered by the Government.

Minister for Children James Reilly unveiled the proposals yesterday and pledged to begin rolling out some this year – but could not say which or how much they would cost.

The inter-departmental report was launched as the Cabinet held its end-of-year meeting at the stately Lissadell House in Sligo.

While no resources for the childcare package have been agreed, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said proposals from the report would be considered ahead of the budget.

The report proposes extending paid maternity leave by an extra six months, bringing it up to a year, and allowing a father and mother share the second paid six months leave.

The Coalition are also examining extending pre-school care for up to two years or more. Under this measure, parents may be able to avail of free pre-school care for their child for up to nearly 100 days. Furthermore, they would be able to dip in and out of availing of the free service, according to those behind the report. The enhanced Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) facilities would be offered to all children from the age of three up until primary school, the report said.

The third flank of the proposals involve subventions for private creches, where parents would receive financial support, according to their income. This subvention would be paid directly to providers. Currently, most subvention for childcare facilities go to community creches, the report says. The group says it is better to have one single, income-based scheme to manage funding.

Mr Reilly launched the report saying that the plans were about affordability, accessibility and quality facilities. But he was reluctant to say when the proposals, some which could take years, would be fully rolled out and how much might be committed to them in the upcoming budget “This is not a big bang approach. It is predicated on what money is available at any given time.”

The extra maternity leave benefit and extended free pre-school care alone would cost close to half a billion euro. The Government now spends €260m annually on early years and school-age care and education services.

The report notes that better investment children’s early years results in better health for them, better employment attributes, lower crime and greater benefits for society through a better skilled workforce.

Reacting to the ambitious proposals, Mark Fielding, CEO of the small and medium business group ISME said the body did not object to the plans as long as employers did not have to contribute to the costs.

Early Childhood Ireland, which represents professsionals working with children, said the report lacked detail on invesment levels and timeframes.

Fianna Fáil also said the lack of clear funding for the plans was “alarming”.

Spokesperson on children Robert Troy added: “It is unfortunate that the Government has left it so late in the lifetime of the current Dáil to take action to address escalating childcare costs.

The National Women’s Council of Ireland welcomed Mr Reilly’s report, saying that it would help build a publically subsidised model of childcare in Ireland.

However, council director Orla O’Connor also questioned the commitment on the childcare plans: “A Scandinavian system as previously promised by the Government provides a subsidy to all parents irrespective of their income. By providing a range of options in the report it is unclear as to what is the preference of government, when these subsidises will be introduced and over what time period.”

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Michael Noonan effectively committed yesterday to ensuring that property taxes will not be increased if the Coalition is reinstated.

Amid fears that rising property prices could force up charges after the next round of property valuations next year, Mr Noonan said that home owners should not expect any “shock” increases in the tax.