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Sinn F\u00e9in has called for a \u201cradical\u201d reform to the childcare sector to assist \u201chard-pressed\u201d families struggling with costs.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in has called for a \u201cradical\u201d reform to the childcare sector to assist \u201chard-pressed\u201d families struggling with costs.<\/p>\n
Pearse Doherty described the system as being \u201cdesperately in need of support\u201d and said Government measures were failing to keep pace with changes.<\/p>\n
Mr Doherty made the comments following the publication of a new Government-led report, which found the average cost of a full-time childcare place nationally has increased by \u20ac4 to \u20ac178 a week or \u20ac700 per month.<\/p>\n
Mr Doherty told the D\u00e1il: \u201cThe reality is that the measures that are being introduced by the Government are not keeping pace with the increase in fees that are being charged to hard pressed families.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve the highest cost of childcare in the developed world so therefore there needs to be radical action and more support and reform of the universal child credit.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Donegal TD described childcare costs as a \u201cmassive\u201d issue, not only for families but for the wider society and economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many families, the cost of providing childcare amounts to a second mortgage every single month,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor some families it makes more sense for them for one or other to opt out of the workforce due to the scandalous costs involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat simply isn\u2019t right and can\u2019t continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report also found capacity was decreasing and the staff turnover rate over the past year was almost 25%.<\/p>\n
Mr Doherty said in many cases workers were being paid well below the living wage and that many were deciding to leave the sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to be actively working towards fair pay for those workers in the sector,\u201d Mr Doherty said.<\/p>\n
High quality affordable childcare is socially and academically beneficial to children, we all know that. It also benefits society and the economy by allowing parents to return to work.<\/p>\n
T\u00e1naiste Simon Coveney accepted that \u201cradical change\u201d was needed within the sector, but he added that was \u201cexactly what was happening\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Coveney said funding aimed at reforming the sector had increased by 117% in the past four years.<\/p>\n
He said that the available budget for childcare had increased from \u20ac265m to \u20ac574m over four budgets, and that a report showed more families than ever were taking up childcare subsidies and supports.<\/p>\n
The research by Pobal found that the number of children attending early years services had increased by almost 10% to more than 202,600 children.<\/p>\n
Mr Coveney said there were signs that the situation was improving.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are signs, although they are only signs, that childcare costs are stabilizing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost of full time childcare has increased over the last year by 2% on average compared to an increase the year before of 4%.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he added: \u201cSo it has halved, but we are not there yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
The T\u00e1naiste acknowledged that it was an area that Ireland had not performed well in compared to EU and internal standards.<\/p>\n
But he said: \u201cThose stats are changing and the affordability of childcare in Ireland is changing and the supports available for families on lower income in particular is changing quickly but we need to continue down that path.”<\/p>\n