Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015
355. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is satisfied with the current level of Government investment in child care; his views that this investment is one of the lowest in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7700/15]
View answerMy Department supports the provision of early childhood care and education by providing funding in the region of €260 million annually to provide for three child care support programmes that make child care services more affordable. This funding ensures that more than 100,000 children have access to quality child care each year. This high level of support, which is in addition to the support provided to all parents in the form of Child Benefit, 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 child care 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 child care 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 child care investments are fully realised, future public investment in child care 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 child care 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.
