Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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668. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the initiatives either activated or planned by her Department to reduce preschool child care costs for parents; and if she has examined models used in other countries as a possible template. [40193/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Reducing the cost of childcare is a key priority for me and for the Government. We have a number of commitments in the Programme for Government relating to enabling access to high quality and affordable childcare. I am determined to deliver on these commitments.

The introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) in September 2017 will provide more accessible and more affordable childcare both on a universal and a targeted basis, to families. This will represent a major milestone in childcare in Ireland.

Since September 2016, the extension of ECCE had made free pre-school available, for 15 hours per week, to all children from the time they turn three, until they go to school. Children can enter at three points in the year. On average, children will benefit from 61 weeks, up from the current provision of 38 weeks. Access to the average 61 weeks of ECCE can reduce the cost of childcare by €4,000 per child. The current ECCE programme is accommodating 67,000 children and this figure will increase to 127,000 next year.

My Department extended the terms of the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme in March 2016 so that it could be provided by private childcare providers across the country as well as community/not-for-profit providers. This was to ensure that eligible families, regardless of where they live, can access this important childcare subvention. The full rate of CCS reduces childcare costs by €95 per week, and is available to parents in receipt of social welfare payments including the One Parent Family Payment or Family Income Supplement. This Scheme will continue in existence until the new Scheme is introduced in September 2017.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to carrying out an independent review of the cost of providing childcare. This review will be overseen by my Department and will include analysis of the potential benefits and risks of imposing price caps on childcare providers. The results will be considered in the context of the new Affordable Childcare Scheme.

The Department is committed to the provision of childcare options for families that reflect international evidence on how to attain the best outcomes for children. The Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on Future Investment in Childcare in Ireland was established in 2015 to identify and assess policies and future options for increasing the affordability, quality and supply of early years and school-age care and education services in Ireland. The IDG examined international evidence on childcare provision, specifically those that addressed affordability and quality. Supply side measures were found to be more optimal for reform and quality improvement. The Affordable Childcare Scheme is an example of a supply side approach and reflects a core recommendation of the IDG to replace the existing targeted childcare schemes, which are administratively complex and inadequate in terms of accessibility, with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme. The Affordable Childcare Scheme responds to a specific need to increase the affordability, quality and supply of early years and school-age care and education services in Ireland.