James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I too welcome the Minister to the House to debate the issue of child care. Being a parent and working are as compatible in this country as mixing oil with water. I would be the first to recognise that some progress has been made in the provision of funding for essential child care services. I was also delighted at the boost for such facilities in my own county of Longford. I was involved in achieving these improvements through Adjournment motions in this House and, privately, through dealing with officials in the Department from time to time.

Granard and Legan received this funding under the equal opportunities programme last week, and I acknowledge the professionalism of those dealing with the issue in the Minister's office. I have an interest in the Legan child care committee, being a member of the board. I am also conscious of the plight of communities where no such help has been forthcoming. Before last week's announcement, Longford had nine separate communities awaiting news of grant-aid for child care in their areas.

As I said, Granard and Legan received funding. However, the other seven areas are still waiting for funding to provide parents with the hope that both partners might be able to join the workforce. These areas are Edgeworthstown, Drumlish, Ballinamuck, Ballinalee, Killoe, Newtownforbes and Newtowncashel. In a cruel blow to their hopes, we now hear that there is a real threat that the Government may withdraw the staffing grant assistance which is currently provided under the equal opportunities child care programme to community-based, non-profit child care centres. That would be completely at odds with the stated objectives of the programme. I hope the Minister is here this evening to assure us that this is not the case. I ask him to imagine the consequences of such an action. Already scare facilities will be forced to close, and hard-pressed parents, struggling to manage the demands of work and home, will be faced with unrealistic choices.

The Taoiseach has been quoted as saying it is not the Government's position to reduce or close child care places but rather to create more. Does that tie in with the threat of closing facilities? I do not think so. Such a serious issue should not become a political football or another broken promise. What could be just another cost-cutting measure for the Minister and his Department would be the end of lifestyle choices for many, not all of whom choose to work but are forced to do so by financial necessity.

The Taoiseach also said that child care costs €800 to €900 per month. We in the Opposition would not dispute that figure, but we object to the Government's blatant attempt to ignore it and withdraw such necessary funding. I commend the excellent work done by so many in my area to provide low-cost child care for all. However, times are catching up with them, and costs are rising. Such changes jeopardise the continued provision of these facilities. For many people child care costs more than mortgage repayments, as pointed out by several Senators present this evening.

Providing tax credits for vouched child care is an obvious measure. It is imperative that the Government introduces tax credits for child care to go some way towards easing the burden and allow more women to enter the workforce. Such participation by women has been recommended in an OECD report on how richer countries can increase economic growth. The gap between the 30 developed economies of the OECD has widened, with output per person in the US now 30% higher than that in Germany and France. The differences will increase unless EU countries in particular improve their performance. If the image of parents chasing elusive and costly child care for their own financial ends does not persuade the Government to do everything in its power to extend child care places and facilities, the more persuasive argument of the economic growth of the country will stir it into action.

We all know that marginalised parents of school-going children would benefit greatly from the support of after-school services and that such services would allow them to avail of employment or educational opportunities that might otherwise not be available to them. Hard-working groups providing both full child care facilities and after-school care have shown unstinting care and dedication throughout the country over the years. It is now up to the Government to provide the funding. I am glad that two programmes of funding have been announced in the past three months. One hopes that more funding will be brought on board. As we know, in the BMW region, which I represent, there is a great underspend of funding in the area, something acknowledged in the BMW mid-term review. This issue must be examined by the Department to ensure that there is the necessary uptake.

On another issue, it was in the public domain for some time that the Minister would make an official announcement last Friday on successful applications but it was very disheartening to hear some Deputies make those announcements on radio one or two days before the official announcement. It happened in my county and in Wexford, Waterford and elsewhere. This showed great discourtesy to the Minister and his officials. The official announcement on funding was a non-event because those Deputies indicated what the Minister intended to announce on a particular day. That matter should be examined. We all talk about transparency, as does the Government, but I wonder if that happens all the time.