Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 49: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will explore the option of providing funding to community playgroups; his views on whether the non-availability of and the high costs of child care facing young parents today is leading to financial hardship for many and with suitable child care buildings already in place a solution is within reach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22879/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Child care was identified as an investment priority under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. This was in direct response to the recommendations of the expert working group on child care established under Partnership 2000 to develop a strategy for the development and delivery of child care. My Department was given lead responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, through which this strategy is being delivered.

The principal objective of the EOCP is to increase the supply of centre based child care places by 55%, or some 31,500 places, by the end of the programme. By the end of June this year, some 26,000 new places had been created and 23,000 existing places were being supported. The EOCP is ahead of its projected targets and is expected to result in 38,500 new places by its end. A further important objective of the EOCP is to provide support and assistance to the many childminders who are providing a child care service across the country. In addition, the programme encompasses measures to address a range of quality issues which were identified in the child care strategy and improve the level of co-ordination in the delivery of child care services.

Since its inception in 2000, the funding committed to the programme has increased from €318 million to €499.3 million, or by 57%, the most recent increase being €50 million in budget 2005. In addition, the multi-annual capital envelopes announced on budget day included increases that will result in a further €50 million in capital in 2006 and will see the injection of a further €40 million in capital funding between 2007 and 2009.

The EOCP is designed to support both an equal opportunities and a social inclusion perspective. These objectives are achieved through the grant structure which has been put in place. Capital grants are available to both private child care service providers and to community or not-for-profit groups. Capital grants facilitate the further development and expansion of child care facilities, assisting parents to reconcile their needs for quality child care while participating in employment, education and training. Staffing grants are made available to community-based groups which demonstrate a focus on disadvantage. To the end of June 2005, more than €97 million has been given in staffing grants under the programme. This funding supports some 2,300 child care staff places catering for disadvantaged parents and children. These supports directly address the issue of child care costs for the most disadvantaged in our society and also recognise the important link between poverty and unemployment and the need to support parents in a work or training environment.

With specific regard to the provision of funding under the EOCP to community playgroups, these are generally groups run by a committee of parents and other local people, set up to offer care and education, mainly on a sessional basis, to children aged between three and five years. In some cases, community playgroups are managed, operated and funded solely by parents. In others, the groups receive financial or other support from local organisations, such as providers of education or health services or church groups. Many community playgroups also receive funding from other State sources. Where a community playgroup meets the qualifying criteria under the EOCP, it can receive grant support for capital and or staffing costs. Currently, some 327 community playgroups across the State are in receipt of EOCP funding and €33 million has been spent on this sector to date.

As I have outlined, the EOCP is supporting the development of a quality child care infrastructure in Ireland which is an essential element to the issue of moderating child care costs for parents. The specific issue of the burden on parents of child care costs is also addressed through the Government's commitment to payments for child benefit. Between 1997 and 2005, child benefit almost quadrupled from some €505 million to €1.91 billion. Since April 2005, child benefit payments stand at €141.60 per month, per child, for the first two children and €177.30 per month for a third and each subsequent child. These increases were introduced to give effect to the Government's commitment to assist all parents in the care of their children irrespective of income or employment status.