Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I thank Senator Bacik for allowing me to share time. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, and I was delighted to hear his comments. I have found the debate so far very interesting, especially the passion of Senator Mary White in discussing a topic she knows so well, and the commitment of Senators Bacik and Fitzgerald shows how far behind I am on this issue. I do not have such experience or knowledge, but I have five children and I remember what it was like when they grew up. I have 11 grandchildren and I can see the joy this brings, but I can also see the needs in those early formative years.

I examined how we compare with other countries in the area of child care. Ireland lags substantially behind other European countries in the provision of child care facilities. According to a new European Commission report on child care, published earlier this month, Irish families with two working parents and two children spend 29.2% of net income on child care — this was already mentioned — the second highest level in the EU. Only the UK spends more at 32% of net income. Similar families in Belgium, Portugal and Poland all spend less than 5% of net income on children.

It is estimated that working parents of preschool children in the country can spend more than €1,000 per month for every child in day care. This puts into perspective the early child care supplement of €1,100 given to parents. It barely covers a single month's fees for most parents. This supplement has been cut back in the budget and will only be given to parents with children up the age of five and a half years, whereas previously it was given for children up to six years of age. This is a further hardship for pressurised families and seems like another step backwards.

This is in marked contrast to what families pay on the Continent. In Spain, for instance, a final monthly crèche bill for two children is €330 after the Government contributes €100 per child. A similar crèche bill in Ireland is estimated to cost almost €2,000 per month. Other countries in Europe have better provision of child care. In Denmark, for instance, parents pay a maximum of 30% of child care costs with the state subsidising the rest. In France, parents with children in crèches are eligible for a subsidy of €600 per month while the Écoles Maternelles open their doors to children aged between two and five years between the hours of 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. This is funded entirely by the state. Some 99% of children attend these schools in France. A comparable system is in place in Italy for children aged three to six years. In Sweden parents pay no more than 3% of household income on crèche fees for their first child, 2% for their second and 1% for their third child. I apologise for providing all these figures but it seems we have much to learn from other countries. In Norway parents pay between 28% and 45% of the cost of children's crèche fees, depending on their income.

In Ireland parents pay 90% of the cost themselves. It is estimated that parents in Ireland with two children in private child care will spend at least €60,000 in four years on crèche fees alone. Then there is the vulnerable end of the spectrum and other changes have come this summer. The level of Government financial support for child care is means tested, as Senator Bacik stated. As a result, many parents on lower or middle incomes are not eligible for any funding and must pay the full cost of community child care.

Senator Bacik made a good point. While I am one of those who question why the State should subsidise the wealthy, the State insists on paying for national schools and primary schools and has done so for more than 200 years and we never question that. It is certainly not a question of saying it is for the wealthy. The Government argues that the changes means State funds are targeted at children most in need of support and such children will receive greater levels of funding. It states a majority of service providers will benefit under the new system.

In discussing child care we must keep in mind families living on the bread-line. The cost of child care services is increasing rapidly with increases of between 50% and 166% in 2007. Because of the changes in the way the Government funds community child care facilities, which came into effect during the summer, the level of Government financial support for parents is now means tested. This means child care services for some of the most vulnerable children are in danger. If the Government does not ensure the most vulnerable children are looked after and that crèches are available at an affordable cost to disadvantaged families, it may result in greater problems down the line. In looking to the future and when discussing the past, including the Celtic tiger and how well it performed in those years, we say the primary reason was education. We have forgotten that education for those under five years of age is so important. What if children cannot access quality preschool education and are, therefore, left behind even before they start school?

The formative years are the most important in a child's life. The children of parents who cannot afford child care should not suffer. The Government must keep its promise to provide essential child care to the most vulnerable in society. Remember when we discussed the success of the economy in recent years, which we hope will return again, we said we must invest in education. If anything, we have fallen down in this area. I have examined the figures which compare Ireland with the rest of Europe and it is those very formative years before they go to school which make the difference.