Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the adequacy of the capitation grant, for the providers of the free pre-school year; and his further views, that the current capitation grant to pre-schools is adequate for these providers to pay their care staff a professional wage. [7761/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government provides €260 million annuallyto a number of child care support programmes that assist parents with the cost of child care. This figure includes €175 million provided annually to support the universal free preschool year under the Early Childhood Care and Education programme. These programmes are, of course, in addition to the support provided to all parents in the form of Child Benefit.

The funding provided through the child care support programmes has had a significant impact on child care provision and has enabled many child care providers to continue to deliver child care services at a time of economic difficulty. The funding has also ensured that employment levels across the sector have been maintained. The retention of the current level of investment in child care is a considerable achievement, given the pressure on the public finances over the last number of years.

I recognise the difficulties being faced by child care providers and I am aware of the concerns of child care professionals in relation to levels of remuneration in the child care sector.

The remuneration for child care workers is a matter for agreement between employers and employees. Staff remuneration does account for the great proportion of the overall cost of providing child care services and I acknowledge that increased capitation and subvention payments through the child care support programmes would assist child care services in addressing these cost issues. I have indicated that, if resources become available to my Department, I will consider the scope for increasing the level of these payments.

However, I want to look at the question of appropriate supports for child care in a wider context. It is crucial that we develop a coherent whole-of-Government approach to investment in child care services. To ensure that all the benefits of our full range of child care investments are fully realised, investment in child care must be evidence-based and strategically co-ordinated. I have established an Inter-departmental Group to look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as to consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. I have asked the Group to report to me by the Summer.