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

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 15, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:"(3) In specifying the terms and conditions of an agreement under this section, the Minister and the statutory body concerned shall have regard to the objective of the provision of stability for children attending childcare services.".

Amendment No. 13 addresses concerns raised by Deputies Kathleen Funchion, Denise Mitchell and Anne Rabbitte during Committee Stage about the operation of section 14 in supporting vulnerable children and their families. The Deputies pointed to the importance of stability in child care arrangements, for vulnerable children in particular, and noted that the risk that child care support for these children could be withdrawn too suddenly or at a time that impacted negatively on a child. I agree with them that this would not be in the best interest of the children.

As highlighted on Committee Stage, the intention underlying the Bill is that section 14 agreements will allow for a planned and graduated withdrawal of support. Nonetheless, given the importance of the issue, I am proposing the amendment to ensure the agreements that underpin section 14 referrals will attach significant weight to the need for children, especially vulnerable children, to have stability in their child care arrangements. The intention of the amendment is not to prolong the section 14 arrangements unduly where the original purpose of the referral has already been achieved but rather to enable and ensure a planned and reasonable withdrawal of section 14 support, having regard to the best interest of the child. For example, the amendment might result in a Minister and the relevant statutory body agreeing not to end section 14 support until the end of a term. The amendment will not, therefore, alter the underlying policy intention but rather copperfasten it.

I thank Deputies Kathleen Funchion, Denise Mitchell and Anne Rabbitte for raising this very important issue.

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