Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 February 2019
57. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which she will ensure that services will be able to offer the affordable childcare scheme and provide sufficient childcare places if they are being penalised should parents not take up the full amount of hours requested on a weekly basis and thus their sustainability is brought into question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7072/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government policy relating to the new Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) was informed by evidence and with the best interests of children and families in mind. The legislation supporting the scheme, the Childcare Support Act 2018, was the subject of much discussion in the Houses and many elements of the policy were considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children on a number of occasions. A Regulatory Impact Analysis was conducted as part of the ACS development.
The ACS, when introduced, will represent a major landmark for all children and families in Ireland, and especially for lower income families and lone parents. International reports have stated that ACS will significantly address affordability for lower income families, with analysis showing that Ireland will, for example, change from being the most expensive country in the OECD for childcare for lone parents, to 11th position. This will also have strong financial benefits for the childcare sector.
The scheme will also increase accessibility, in particular, by providing a coherent and progressive system of income-related subsidies. By contrast, under the existing targeted schemes, subsidies are dependent on parents being in receipt of certain social welfare payments or a medical card or participating in particular training programmes.
Consistent with enhancing accessibility, the scheme is designed to be flexible. It acknowledges that childcare needs differ widely across different families. It reflects the fact that parents and providers currently agree the childcare arrangements, based on a combination of parental need and what the service can reasonably provide. Under the scheme, parents and providers can continue to agree childcare requirements amongst themselves. The scheme will then pay subsidies towards the cost of the agreed childcare arrangements up to a maximum number of hours per week. It will remain a matter for childcare providers themselves to set their own fees and determine their own admission policies.
Subsidies under the ACS will be paid subject to a child regularly using the childcare place. In other words, the scheme will contain rules in relation to circumstances where a child leaves the service, is absent or is not fully using the agreed place over a prolonged period. These rules will be child-centred, fair and proportionate, clear and consistent. They will recognise the need for flexibility for parents. They will not disadvantage services for what can be considered minor non-attendances. At the same time, they will recognise the need to protect State finances by ensuring that Exchequer funds are used to support the maximum number of families in need of financial support, represent value for money for taxpayers, and are managed and allocated in accordance with robust and appropriate procedures.
A comprehensive programme of information, training and supports for providers, parents and other stakeholders will shortly be rolled out. Training for providers will be tailored and timed to suit the needs of busy childcare providers, and will include full details of Scheme rules. It is hoped that the extensive information and training will reassure providers re the reasonableness of the scheme, part of which was informed by focus groups and user testing with providers and parents. Details of the information and training programme will be communicated in the coming weeks.
