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Child Care Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 November 2006

Wednesday, 1 November 2006

Questions (16)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

89 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the recent OECD Report which found that child care costs here are among the highest in Europe and are rising far faster than inflation; the steps she will take to ensure affordable child care for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30636/06]

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Written answers

I welcome the OECD's recent report on Early Childhood Education and Care "Starting Strong II".

I believe the Report's findings show a strong convergence between OECD and Irish Government policy for Early Childhood Education and Care. The OECD notes that policy in this area should not be elaborated from outside but should be based on consensus-building within the country as each OECD member will have individual factors and levels of historical development which will require tailored solutions to be found. Secondly brief reference is made in the report to some of the major recent initiatives taken by Ireland in the area of Early Childhood Education and Care. The data and the findings of the Report largely reflect the position during 2002-2004 which have been substantially advanced by these more recent developments.

The report finds that, along with Italy and Portugal, Ireland was found to be spending 0.44% of its GDP on this area. If our level of investment is measured as a percentage of Gross National Product (GNP), the figure rises to 0.54% which is on a par with Germany and Austria. Parents will receive more support in paying their childcare costs in 2006 following the increases in April this year in Child Benefit and the introduction of the Early Childhood Supplement of €1,000 per annum to parents of children aged up to 6 years.

The Irish model has taken the classic features of state supported "supply-side" systems, such as wage supports for community childcare services, providing supports for services through the 33 local City and County Childcare Committees, supporting national voluntary childcare organisations and targeting identified local childcare service needs. Our investment is also based on social inclusion which is also relevant to our increasingly diverse society. These are all key values identified by the OECD.

These Programmes are, in turn, key elements of the National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010. I am satisfied that the Government approach to childcare will serve to moderate prices in the sector over time by increasing the supply of places and giving parents greater choice. As I have outlined, the Government approach is also about improving quality as childcare should not be judged solely on matters of cost and availability.

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