Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to introduce the motion which concentrates on a critical sector of society, an area that, unfortunately, the Government has failed to give the priority it deserves. This is only the second time in the lifetime of the Government that we have had a substantial debate on the issue, and both times the debate has been facilitated by my party. We now have a situation where early childhood care and education in this country has the highest cost in the OECD. We have a workforce that is undervalued and demoralised.

Early childhood education is a fundamental component of this country’s education system and the unique learning experience that takes place in early childhood provides an essential cornerstone for lifelong learning and educational attainment. Effective early childhood care and education has a significant role to play in improving outcomes for children, in particular those who are faced with barriers to learning, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for later interventions. A balanced, effective early childhood care and education system is about delivering horizontal policy co-ordination to create an early childhood system that serves children, families, the workforce and society as a whole.

Last year, in reply to our motion, the then Minister spoke about how we were data rich in terms of Irish children and how empirical evidence showed the benefits of early intervention regarding school-readiness and cognitive and behavioural developments. She quoted from the medium-term economic strategy statement which said our increasing child and youth population is a significant resource for our country and, therefore, ensuring the best possible outcomes for this group is an important element in our future economic planning, yet the Government has failed to live up to the statement. The early years strategy - an overarching plan and a roadmap of how the Government wants this critical sector to develop in the coming years - has yet to be published. In the absence of such a roadmap or plan, we have a very disjointed, un-co-ordinated and ad hocapproach.

The Department of Social Protection cut the child benefit rate, reduced and taxed maternity benefit and changed the eligibility criteria for one-parent families, all of which affect affordability. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs reneged on its promise to introduce a free preschool year in the lifetime of the Government. The Minister should acknowledge that will not happen. The promised review of the community child care subvention scheme and the community education and training scheme has yet to be published. We do not know whether the review has started, if it has been completed or what stage it has reached. The Minister cut capitation rates for the free preschool year and increased the adult to child ratio. While the necessary reforms of this critical sector have been announced, they have yet to be implemented or costed in terms of the financial impact they will have on the sector, which is already under-resourced and undervalued.

The workforce of the sector amounts to 24,000. Those are the people parents entrust with their children on a daily basis for their education and care. The Government does not recognise the pivotal role they play in delivering quality early education and care. In the context of affordability, in his counter-motion the Minister refers to the funding available for the community subvention scheme and the child care education and training support, CETS, scheme - €70 million per annum, and the €175 million for the free preschool year. I do not dispute those figures, but the community child care subvention scheme was introduced to help the most marginalised and vulnerable, people whose only source of income is social welfare. The review of the scheme was promised in excess of 18 months ago but we have yet to hear about progress in that regard. The children of those less well-off in society are segregated because the only people who can avail of the scheme are those who attend community facilities. There is nothing wrong with community facilities, only that we do not have enough of them. The scheme must be extended to all facilities because, of the existing 4,300 services, only one third are community facilities.

The Minister referred to the €175 million for the free preschool year and the €2,500 in savings for child care costs for working families. That is not enough. Did the Minister see the "Claire Byrne Live" show last night where a firefighter spoke about the exorbitant costs he and his partner must pay to have their three children minded? We all remember the harrowing story of Donna Hartnett that appeared in the Irish Examinerearlier this year. She asked whether her children would look at her grave and say she was a great woman as she had paid all her taxes.

The costs are exorbitant for all sectors of child care, not just full-day care services. I was contacted by a constituent who is facing an 11% increase in after-school costs. She said the crèche she uses provides an excellent service and employs 16 staff. She said that as a family they could not function without it and they are fortunate it is not closing. Report after report will confirm that the cost of having two children minded full time is €16,500 a year. That is a second mortgage. A total of 45% of the average income of a single parent, whom the Government chose to target with its change in criteria for the one-parent family allowance, goes on child care costs. There must be critical action on the issue now. The Government is in power for four years and we have not seen any action.

Reference was made by the Minister to a graduate-led professional workforce. That is a great aspiration. It is something we would all sign up to, yet the learner fund introduced by the Minister is restricted to level five or level six for team leaders in the ECCE schemes. How could people who are earning just above the minimum wage, and who have no professional development days, afford to enhance their qualifications if they are not supported by the State? How can we aspire to a graduate-led professional workforce if we do not match it with the necessary resources?

The existing free preschool year is contracted to provide 15 hours per week, 38 weeks in the year. That does not take into consideration the non-contact time and administrative responsibilities, yet the Government reduced the capitation level payable for the scheme. That is having an unbearable effect on the sustainability of the services.

I made the point last week in committee that, at the very minimum, the Government should look at restoring the capitation to 2011 levels. This would make a significant difference to the sustainability of this sector. There is no standard nationally agreed pay scale. The low pay commission may provide the opportunity. Will the Minister give a commitment that this Government will ensure that the 24,000 workers in this sector will be included in the low pay commission? Will he ensure a link to State-funded child care schemes?

I refer to the issue of opportunity for all, regardless of background or ability. There is no plan for inclusion or additional funding supports for children with a disability who are in mainstream early childhood services. This flies in the face of equal opportunities for all, especially when every child is entitled to participate in the universal free preschool year.

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