Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 5

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

123 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the survey carried out by the National Children's Nurseries Association which showed that parents in Dublin paid up to three times as much for child care as those in rural Ireland; the steps being taken to address the cost of child care, especially in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27670/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am aware that the National Children's Nurseries Association (NCNA) carried out a survey with its members last summer. However a copy of the final report has not been presented to my Department. Upon request, on the 8 November 2001 the NCNA provided my officials with part of the initial results of their survey. The initial results do highlight a difference in the costs of child care depending on the location of the service. However, the information obtained by my officials does not show that the mean weekly fee for child care in Dublin is three times as much as the mean weekly fee in rural areas. The NCNA have informed my Department that, leading on from this survey, they have undertaken to gain further details of the costs of delivering child care.

As regards the costs of child care arrangements my Department has approved funding to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to carry out research on the child care arrangements of union members. This research project was undertaken in autumn 2001 and the report should be available in the not too distant future. The ICTU research in conjunction with the NCNA findings, when completed, will provide valuable information on the actual costs of childcare arrangements today as reported by those who participated in the surveys.

This Government identified child care as a priority area for investment in the National Development Plan, 2000-2006. In total £344 million, 436 million, comprising EU and Exchequer funding has been allocated to my Department over the course of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 to improve child care provision and quality throughout the country.

Since the announcement of the availability of grants in April 2000, I have approved more than £76 million, more than 96 million, in funding under the equal opportunities child care programme. Of this, over £64 million (over 81 million) has been allocated in the form of capital or staffing grants to enhance child care services on the ground. Over 25,000 child care places will be supported by the funding committed by my Department which includes the creation of more than 11,000 new child care places.

As regards supports for parents, a very significant development in this regard is the improvement in the rate of child benefit. My colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, in budget 2001 indicated that a core objective is to provide support which will offer real choice to parents and which will benefit all children. In 2001, payment rates increased by £25, 31.7, per month for the first and second child to £67.50, 85.7, and by £30, 38, per month for third and subsequent children to £86, 109.2, per month. Furthermore, the Minister announced that payment of these increases would be brought forward by three months to June rather than the September date which applied previously. These increases marked the first step in a three year programme which will see an additional £1 billion, 1.27 billion, being invested in child related payments and will bring the child benefit rates to £117.50, 149.19, and £146, 185.38, respectively, by 2003, well beyond the PPF commitments. It is also worth noting that child benefit is recognised as the most effective way of combating child poverty and, of course, payments are made directly to the principal carer of the child.

The measures in place by my Department, as outlined above, together with the increase in child benefit rates announced in budget 2001, reaffirm this Government's commitment to keeping childcare at the forefront of its social agenda.