Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his opening statement and for coming to the House.I thank the Leader and her office for organising this engagement. Many Members requested a debate or statements on childcare and I thank the Leader for facilitating these statements on childcare provision.

It is important that we are increasingly learning of the importance of early experiences, development and learning and how critical that is to the ongoing development of children into young adults. Of course, society itself benefits from early intervention in the context of how we care for, support and nurture children. I do not need to tell the Minister about it; he knows it already, as do all present.

There is no doubt that there are issues in respect of childcare. It is in crisis. The Government has identified it as a key issue. Along with housing and health, childcare and education are key issues on which the Government will be judged. I acknowledge the enormous amount of work the Minister has done in this area but there is far more work to be done. Childcare has become a political issue as well as a public one. That is good. It brings it centre stage, puts demands on the services and obliges the politicians to prioritise. People have been talking about childcare for so long. It is diverse, including services such as play groups. We see the outcomes. "Outcomes" is a recurring word when we are talking about children and childcare.

Play groups are the most widespread service in terms of early childcare intervention. Some of them are informal, while others are more regularised and formal. There needs to be some sort of uniformity in that regard. I acknowledge the importance of community play groups. They have a powerful and transforming effect on the lives of many women involved in running these groups. That has been my experience. Community play groups are an important resource, particularly in disadvantaged areas, not just for children but also for their mothers. They enable people to meet the needs of their family. Doing that collectively and together in a community is empowering and builds stable relationships going forward.

I refer to the concern in respect of waiting lists. I think the Minister is going to deal with that. More capacity and supply are urgently needed. It is an issue of capacity and supply and those are key priorities. There is also the issue of affordability, which is very important.

I ask the Minister to address the relationship of his Department with county childcare committees. I believe the latter are underutilised. They are particularly effective groups. I do not think they are in all local authorities. I might be wrong. Approximately 28 local authorities have a county childcare committee. That is an issue.

There is another issue I wish to throw into the mix. We need to consider a move to a zero rate of VAT. VAT is charged on childcare providers. I was not aware of that previously. Childcare providers are also charged commercial rates, whereas early childhood care and education centres are not. There are anomalies here. We should take down any blocks in this regard.

Experience in community development tells me that parents working together form the nucleus of strong community development, as well as forming strong character and support in children. That is important.

I know the Minister is doing a lot of work on this issue and there are many asks of him but I ask him to focus on how older children are being cared for outside school hours. That is an important area. What childcare arrangements and supports are being provided for Traveller families, recognising the particular needs of that group? I refer to children with disabilities and children of migrant communities. These are challenges.

There are streets in Dublin where one sees young children who are neither in school nor in play groups or otherwise supported. There are young children having burgers and pizzas from cartons for breakfast at 8 a.m. I have spoken to parents in parts of Dublin who are being put out of bed and breakfast accommodation and what is referred to as support accommodation. It is not supportive or conducive to the personal, health, development and well-being of their children. These are serious challenges.

I am deeply disturbed to see vulnerable children on the main streets of Dublin. One can see them down on the boardwalks. Their parents may have addiction or mental health problems. In what way is the State supporting them? I am not even talking about them having the luxury of a roof over their heads. We have to consider that. Too many children in this country are still at risk due to circumstances of social and economic disadvantage. It is no fault of their own. They have to be the priority. It is not about the loudest mouth or the person who says he or she cannot fully afford it. There are children on the streets at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. who have no supports. They are vulnerable and at risk and they have to be our priority.

Childcare supply and demand are at crisis point. It is important. It is about an equal start for all children and improving outcomes for them. It is about development of all forms - cognitive, communication and language, social and emotional, and physical. It is about creating a safe and healthy environment for children, promoting active learning in a conducive and safe environment, positive parenting or guardianship, good mental well-being, knowledge, skills and the spoken and written language. That is a hell of a lot but that is what we have to do. Every child is entitled to an equal start. I know the Minister is committed to that but somehow it has to happen faster. The current situation cannot go on. These children are our future. They are the next generation. If we have learned anything from all our discussions on the past and how the State cared for or failed to care for children, then we must do something positive for these children to ensure they have better outcomes. That is now within our grasp