Written answers

Thursday, 20 September 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Childcare Costs

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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28. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the latest ESRI/Pobal research on childcare costs; if she will address the fact that mothers who face high childcare costs work fewer hours; her views on whether high childcare costs act as a barrier to employment for women, especially lone parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37908/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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There is no doubt that the cost of childcare presents a challenge to families in Ireland and in particular for mothers who wish to return to work. A recent survey conducted by ICTU found that childcare costs sit alongside housing costs within the top two out of pocket expenses for families and this can only be amplified in the case of lone parents. This is consistent with more extensive research elsewhere. The early years sector has suffered from historical underinvestment over the last decades, resulting in Ireland lagging behind the European average for investment in this critical infrastructure.

It is for this reason that I have worked tirelessly since becoming Minister for Children & Youth Affairs to address this issue affecting so many Irish families. The investment in this sector has increased by 80% over the period 2015- 2018. Last year I introduced a range of measures focused on lowering the cost of childcare including a new non means tested subsidy of up to €1,040 for young children under three years of age and an increase of up to 50% in targeted subsidy rates for families that need it most with up to €145 per week available to children up to 15 years of age.

The response to these measures has been extremely positive. Targets have been exceeded with over 84,000 registrations since the introduction last September, demonstrating the need to support families with their childcare costs through further significant, sustained investment.

Earlier this year the entitlement to financial support for childcare was put on a legislative footing for the first time in the history of the State with the passing of the Childcare Support Act. The development of the IT and administrative infrastructure for the Affordable Childcare Scheme is also continuing apace. There is no easy fix to the challenge of childcare costs in Ireland but we are now firmly putting the building blocks in place to benefit families for years to come and with continued investment I believe we are making progress to achieve the childcare system that families in Ireland deserve.

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