BUDGET 2016: Additional investment in early years care and education ‘must not be a once off’

Business group Ibec says the childcare measures in the budget should improve the participation of women in the workforce.

It said childcare costs in Ireland were the highest of the high-income OECD member countries and could act as a barrier for people re-entering the workforce.

It said the extension of the free pre-school scheme would lower the burden faced by working parents and should help improve female participation in the workforce.

Minister for Children Dr James Reilly said the €85m in new childcare funding marked the beginning of a multi-annual programme in this “strategically important area”.

However, Early Childhood Ireland said the additional investment in early years education and care could not be a “once off”.

What was needed was sustained additional resources of €100m-plus every year for the next five years.

It also pointed out that bringing the capitation rate back up to €64.50 per child a week, while welcome, was the bare minimum needed to provide free pre-school.

It said many childcare providers would be left still struggling with a scheme that did not cover the actual cost of delivery.

The representative group for 3,500 childcare providers, was also disappointed that there was not more support and real investment in after-school care in the budget — it was a missed opportunity.

It pointed out that only €3m was being allocated for after school and that was within school buildings.