Committee: Childcare spending needs to treble

Government spending on childcare should be trebled in coming years, it was claimed tonight.

An Oireachtas Committee said the current spend of 0.4% of GDP should be increased to 1% in the short to medium term.

This rise in expenditure would represent close to €1.2bn a year.

The all-party body also recommended that stay-at-home parents should be given state pension rights and €70 a week in extra childcare payments.

A report by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights drew up its 12 recommendations after considering public hearings and written submissions in the past six months.

Committee chairman Sean Ardagh said he expected the recommendations to influence decisions taken by Government.

Committee member Jim O’Keeffe said: “The spend on childcare in Scandinavian countries is several times that of Ireland so we have a long way to go on this issue.”

Interest groups consulted included the National Women’s Council of Ireland, the National Economic & Social Forum, Barnardos, Curam, Childminding Ireland and the National Children’s Nursing Association.

The report also recommended that responsibility for childcare be transferred from the Department of Justice to either the Department of Health and Children or the Department of Education and Science.

The committee strongly supported early education in the year before a child enters primary school.

Mr O’Keeffe of Fine Gael said the Government had an obligation to devise family-friendly employment policies for parents.

“The right to choose to stay at home must also be acknowledged.

“Irish parents spend 30% of their income on childcare, while the EU average is 8%.”

Labour TD Joe Costello said he had no doubt that Minister for Justice Michael McDowell will give serious consideration to the all-party body’s recommendations.

Minister for Finance Brian Cowen is expected to unveil a substantial long-term package on childcare in next month’s Budget.