Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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158. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the findings by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that Ireland's investment in child care is one of the lowest in the world, if he will make a commitment to child care facilities, and workers, by acknowledging the severe pressures the industry is under, with increases in costs of food, fuel and rates; and the way he will support the industry. [7709/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department supports the provision of early childhood care and education by providing annually in the region of €260 million to provide for three childcare support programmes that make childcare services more affordable and ensure 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 expenditure does not include expenditure under other programmes or by other Departments and therefore does not represent the full extent of State expenditure. Ireland spends over 0.4% of GDP relative to the OECD average of 0.7%.

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. To ensure that all the benefits of childcare investments are fully realised, future public investment in childcare must be evidence-based and strategically coordinated. I am establishing 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. It is crucial that we develop a coherent whole-of-Government approach to investment in childcare services.

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 that the work of this Group be carried out within a relatively short time frame and I expect that the Group will be in a position to report to me in the Summer.