Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Again I appreciate the concerns that are expressed by Deputy Rabbitte. It is really important that we have the opportunity to clarify this. The Bill, as published, sets no limit to the number of weeks of child care support per year. I can assure Deputies that regulations to be made under the Bill will provide for payment of child care support for up to 52 weeks per year.

The policy paper published in October 2016 proposed limiting subsidies under the scheme to 48 weeks per year. However, on foot of feedback received during consultation on the policy paper, the policy position was reviewed. The heads of Bill and general scheme published in January 2017 subsequently proposed paying subsidies up to 52 weeks per year. That remains Government policy. I, therefore, do not believe there is a need for an amendment that states the scheme will operate on a 52-week basis.

Furthermore, it would not be appropriate for weekly subsidies simply to be determined by dividing the level of annual subsidy by 52, for two reasons. Firstly, a child who is at school or taking part in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme may need more hours of child care each week during holiday periods than during term time. To ensure that subsidies during holiday periods are adequate, it will be important that the level of weekly subsidy differs between holiday periods and term times. Secondly, a child care provider may choose to offer child care only during term time periods, and some parents may only want child care during term times. As such, dividing annual subsidies into 52 parts and paying one part each week, which is outlined in the Deputy's amendment, would unfairly limit the amount of subsidy paid in such cases. For these reasons, I am not accepting the amendment.

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