Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015
353. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a clear timeframe for an early years strategy that will move Ireland from an investment position of 0.2% to 7% of gross domestic product per year on early childhood education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8857/15]
View answerMy Department supports the provision of early childhood care and education by providing annually in the region of €260 million to provide for three childcare support programmes that make childcare services more affordable and ensure that more than 100,000 children have access to quality childcare. This high level of support 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 by my Department on childcare related programmes has been in the region of 0.2 per cent of GDP in recent years, there is expenditure by other Departments that relate to childcare provision. The largest element of this would be expenditure by the Department of Education and Skills on Junior and Senior Infants within primary schools and on the Early Start programmes in disadvantaged schools. When the full expenditure on preschool provision is taken into account, Ireland spends about 0.4% of GDP on childcare provision.
It is clear that accessibility, affordability and high quality childcare 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.
I would like to be in a position to increase our investment in childcare-related programmes to be in line with the OECD average as resources allow. This will take time, as the benefits of growth generate the required resources. However, I am determined that all such spending, whether existing or additional, will be based on good evidence and co-ordinated strategically, so that we achieve the best possible benefits for children.
To this end, I have established an Inter-Departmental Group which will 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. 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 the Group to report to me by the Summer.
