Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she is taking to support stay at home parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31227/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am committed to the provision of childcare options for families that respect parental choice and reflect international evidence on how to attain the best outcomes for children.

I support the Government’s plans for extension of parental leave for parents; particularly in the crucial first year. The introduction of two weeks Paternity Benefit for the first time this year must also be welcomed.

The Government has provided additional support for stay-at-home parents through the home carer tax credit, which has been increased to €1,100 per year. I support an increase in the earnings threshold for this, and have raised this with the Minister for Finance.

A key responsibility of mine as Minister for Children is to make childcare costs more affordable for parents who need to work or who choose to work. For this reason, I have focused on the delivery of the new Affordable Childcare Scheme and the delivery of interim measures this September to make childcare more affordable. I hope that access to more affordable childcare will give families real choice as to whether they wish to remain at home to care for their children, or whether they wish to return to work or education and avail of childcare supports.

Delivering more affordable childcare is only one element of a broader set of commitments and supports aimed at parents and children that I intend to lead out on. The provision of improved centre-based childcare services is very important, but I will not lose sight of the needs of children who do not attend them. In this regard, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young Peoplecontains a commitment to produce Ireland’s first-ever National Early Years Strategy. The intention is to deliver a cross-cutting strategy which will take a joined-up, whole of Government approach to the issue of supporting children and their families during the early years (0-6 years). The drafting of the National Early Years Strategy is being advanced by my Department. In December of last year I hosted an Open Policy Debate on the Strategy with a view to completion of the Strategy later this year. My officials will be engaging further with key Government Departments and other stakeholders in the coming months to bring it to a conclusion.