Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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149. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the findings of the Think-tank for Action on Social Change report, which sees Ireland second in the European Union, when it comes to child care costs (details supplied). [7743/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the difficulties that parents are experiencing in meeting current childcare costs. To help address this situation, my Department supports the provision of early childhood care and education by providing annually in the region of €260 million to support three childcare programmes that make childcare services more affordable. This investment ensures that more than 100,000 children have access to quality childcare. This high level of support has been maintained despite the difficult budgetary situation that prevailed in recent years.

I wish to point out to the Deputy that, while the annual spend on childcare related programmes has been in the region of 0.2 per cent of GDP in recent years, this does notinclude expenditure under other programmes or by other Departments. It therefore does not represent the full extent of State expenditure. In fact, Ireland spends 0.4% of GDP relative to the OECD average of 0.7%.The funding provided by my Department has a considerable impact on the level and quality of childcare services provided.

It is clear that accessibility, affordability and high quality childcare can play a critical role in achieving a number of Government priorities, including improving educational outcomes for children, reducing poverty and increasing parents' participation in the labour market.

I would like to be in a position to increase our investment in childcare-related programmes as resources allow. However, I am determined that all such spending, whether existing or additional, will be based on good evidence, and co-ordinated strategically, so that we achieve the best possible benefits for children.

To this end, I have established an Inter-departmental Group which will 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.

This new Group will include representatives of the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Finance and the Department of the Taoiseach and will be led and supported by my Department.I have asked the Group to report to me by the Summer.