Long-term target to provide cheaper childcare

The Government will adopt a long-term plan to help parents access cheaper childcare, Minister for Children Brian Lenihan said tonight.

The Fianna Fáil TD, who was speaking after his party’s annual think-in discussed the issue, said the Cabinet was considering all options to improve childcare infrastructure in the country.

Mr Lenihan is currently preparing a detailed document with the National Children’s Office on the options available to the Government.

“We have to look at all the options and see how the taxpayer can get value for the money we invest,” he said.

He said the Government had invested €500m under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme in building up physical childcare infrastructure.

“But we’re finding that that’s not enough and a lot of parents are coming to us saying they can’t afford childcare,” he said.

He confirmed that options such as tax relief, parental leave and a subsidised kindergarten scheme were all being looked at.

“The Government is at a listening stage at this time and it is important to have an informed debate on the issue.

“But there has to be a programme implemented over a number of years which will put in place a childcare infrastructure in this country.”

The average creche place in Dublin costs a family around €6,000 a year.

The childcare issue dominated March’s by-elections in Kildare North and Co Meath, which were lost by Government parties.

Guest speakers on the final day of the parliamentary party meeting in Co Cavan included experts on the issue: Maureen Gaffney of the National Economic and Social Forum, tax specialist Pam Kearney and Nóirín Hayes of the Childrens Rights Alliance.

Ms Gaffney called for five-year plan to improve childcare access for parents.

She proposed a one-year parental leave scheme to allow a mother or father to stay at home for 12 months after the birth.

Then a free kindergarten place should be provided during the year before going to school, she said.

In a 75-minute presentation to TDs and senators, she also suggested a comprehensive training and a registration scheme for childminders.

Speaking afterwards on the reception she received to her ideas, she said: “I think there is a definite feeling that this issue will have to be faced.”

Refusing to commit to any budget measures, Minister for Finance Brian Cowen later said: “Fianna Fáil is treating this issue with the seriousness that it deserves.”