Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

If the Government's proposals succeed, there will be dire consequences for the provision of not-for-profit child care and the significant contribution made by this sector to our communities will be rolled back. Any changes to the subvention structure under the national child care investment programme that result in a reduction in staffing levels will mean a reduction in funds available to pay staff in many community-based child care centres. This possibility contradicts the commitment in the national development plan to provide an additional 28,000 child care places and 8,000 jobs in child care. It could be argued that this subvention is being introduced in reverse. That is to say, the highest rate of subvention is being suggested for parents who are in receipt of full social welfare. If a parent stops receiving social welfare and takes up employment that parent's subvention for child care is reduced. This reduces the incentive to take up employment.

The Government, through its actions, is contradicting its own stated policy. At present, community child care facilities serve a mix of families reflective of the local community. If this subvention scheme is implemented according to the current proposals, community child care facilities may be seen as centres at which only the children of social welfare recipients are facilitated. This is contrary to any social inclusion remit. How will working families on marginal incomes who are not entitled to any form of State support have access to affordable child care? Community child care facilities which have been in receipt of staffing grants since 2002 will now be obliged to consider increasing their fees as a result of these measures. Where is the commitment to quality child care centres and to the benefits of early childhood education and socialisation? Where is the commitment to the volunteers all over the country who have given of their time, and are still doing so, to find sites, apply for funding, fill in forms, set up services and become employers? I call on the Government to rethink its proposals and let common sense prevail.

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