Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to explain the reason the issue of child care affordability was not considered in the recent expert group report on early years strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48034/13]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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In light of the recent publication of the Minister's expert group report on early years strategy, will the Minister explain the reason or outline the rationale why child care affordability was not given prominence or consideration in the report given that the affordability of child care in Ireland is possibly one of the greatest issues and challenges facing the sector?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is a pity this issue did not get more attention in the years when there was so much money around and when child care was a major issue for so many couples who were combining their work and family responsibilities. I am very much aware that affordability in respect of child care services is a major issue for Irish parents. We have lagged behind other countries, and there is no question of that. That is one of the reasons I set up the early years group with broad terms of reference. I asked the group to set out its views on what should be in the early years strategy. I set no restrictions on what the group could discuss or on what the recommendations should be.

The report the group produced, Right from the Start, reflects the group's views. I appreciate the work done. It was a wide working group representing the sector and those who have an interest and who work in this area. It is clear from the recommendations in the group's report that there was consideration of affordability of child care despite the Deputy's suggestion. There is a reference to high child care costs. There are recommendations referring to increasing investment in early care and education services without increasing parental fees and to extending the entitlement to free preschool provision. The argument put forward by the group for State support for quality improvements in child care services would see this important parental priority addressed with support from public funding, and this is what we are doing. I announced the Government decision in the budget to provide €4.5 million towards quality supports for preschool services. This will be of considerable benefit to parents, children and providers.

The extension of entitlement to a free preschool year is also of considerable relevance to the affordability of child care. The financial benefit of that preschool year, which was a good legacy, is of great help to parents in terms of costs, and a second year would save parents approximately €3,000, a considerable amount. The group recommended that before we move on to do that, we need to address quality issues, and that is what we are doing with the mentoring and training programme.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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There had been considerable investment in the past decade in respect of child care and a total of 70,000 child care places were created. The Minister adverted to the free child care year. This is a serious issue. Yesterday, we heard the results of a survey, including that 55% of people aged between 20 and 49 years said the cost of child care was an issue and that 25% or one in four people in the country believe they are too poor to start a family.

When one considers the terms of reference for the advisory group the Minister has assembled, it beggars belief that this issue was not given the prominence it deserves. The Government must commit to carrying out a cost analysis of child care-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you Deputy.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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-----and set out a clear timeframe and clear parameters as to when such analysis can be reported back to the Houses of the Oireachtas to facilitate an open and frank discussion-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Deputy. I must call the Minister but will let you in again.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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-----as to how child care will be subsidised in the future.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We must stick to the times allocated.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It must be a priority for the Government to tackle the issue of affordability. I acknowledge the Minister is undertaking work on quality child care.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Troy, I will come back to you but I must call on the Minister.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My question to the Deputy is why, when in government, his party gave back more than two thirds of the funds for the early child care supplement, that is, of the €480 million that was allocated to child care at the time? Had that money been retained and invested in child care services, it would have gone a long way towards providing free child care but not a cent of it was reinvested in quality supports or in new inspectors either. Clearly, there is an historical legacy of a lack of investment in subsidised child care. During the boom in Ireland, apart from the preschool year, no additional supports were introduced to child care services to ensure that parents were not obliged to pay the amounts they must now pay. It is not that the providers are charging so much, because as Members are aware, many workers in that sector are not earning much money. However, no subsidy is in place because over the years, direct payments were given to parents, as opposed to building up the sector. That said, I wish to move to a position in which that second year is in place and in which quality services are available that can be supported to develop. I agree with the Deputy in that as the economic situation improves the entire question of child care costs and support for that sector should be a priority.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Minister.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is something in which the State should be investing increasingly because it is an economic imperative, as well as being a personal imperative for the families. As the OECD has noted, we will need to have quality child care available for parents-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry Minister, I call Deputy Troy.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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-----in the years ahead in order that work and family life can be combined.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Troy, briefly. One minute.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Earlier this year, the Minister had hoped to introduce a second preschool year in this year. I am glad she has come around to my way of thinking because I had articulated and identified the existence of quality concerns in respect of the entire preschool and early year setting. I am glad this issue is being tackled because quality child care is a necessity, not a luxury, and it is imperative that quality child care be available. When I raised this issue last April, the Minister spoke of how, as growth returns to the economy, consideration can be given to subsidising child care. However, we lack a clear pathway, framework and strategy as to how this will be done, apart from the Minister stating her hope that a second preschool year would be introduced in the coming years. This is the reason a cost analysis of child care should be conducted to examine precisely how child care will be subsidised in the future. It is not right that 55% of young people aged between 20 and 49-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you Deputy.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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-----are worried about the cost of child care. Moreover, in the case of one in four people in Ireland, the cost of child care is preventing them from starting a family, as they consider themselves to be-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you Deputy, I must call the Minister.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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-----too poor to so do.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry, Deputy Troy.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister give a commitment to carry out a cost analysis of child care in order that a clear framework and strategy can be put in place as to how this issue will be tackled in the future?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I reject the Deputy's comments, as for the first time an early years strategy is in place. I remind the Deputy it is the first time there has been a national early years policy. It is the first time in recent years that a group has been established to specifically examine the sector and to make a series of recommendations that effectively will form the framework for the recommendations on how the child care sector will be developed. Clearly, as the economic situation improves and as the Government deals with the mess it has inherited in respect of Ireland's economic sovereignty, investment in child care is one of the key areas that must be prioritised.