An ambitious Government plan to provide thousands of after-school places for children of parents returning to the workforce has resulted in just a fraction of the numbers promised being delivered.
In December 2012, Ministers announced details of a new after-school childcare scheme that would provide “upwards of 6,000” subsidised places, targeted at low-income families where parents were planning to return to work. Almost two years later, however, just over 100 children are availing of the after-school scheme.
Childcare experts say a combination of low payment rates for childcare providers, limited knowledge of the scheme and practical obstacles to accessing after-school care are to blame for the low take-up.
In theory, the scheme is open to out-of-work parents who are about to start a job, or increase the hours they work, on a first-come-first-served basis. In practice, however, many parents say they were unable to access the service.
Following low take-up of the initiative in a pilot project last year, an “enhanced” version of the scheme was announced over the summer, including expanded eligibility and free pick-up services for primary-school children.
Parents' contributions were also reduced, from €20 a week to €15, while eligibility was widened to parents in receipt of jobseeker's or one-parent family payments who were participating in Department of Social Protection employment programmes. Latest figures, as of mid-September, show that just 106 children were availing of the scheme.
Impact not yet evident
However, a spokeswoman for Minister for Children James Reilly said the full impact of the changes on uptake would not be evident until later in the current school year. Stuart Duffin, director of policy with One Family, said parents reported many drawbacks with the scheme, such as its availability and limited duration. He said a better approach would be to roll out a more comprehensive after-school care and recreation system with much wider eligibility criteria.
“These kinds of places would offer job opportunities, as our economy relies on an educated workforce. Children benefit from early education at a time when their brains are still wired for learning,” he said. “Instead, services are closing. There’s no real secret about the changes that are needed . . . Nothing substantial will be achieved without a detailed plan forward.”
Promised places
The promise of subsidised after-school places was made by the Government in 2012, shortly after it reformed welfare payments for single-parent families to encourage parents to enter the workforce. Under these changes, the one-parent family payment will cease to be paid to parents whose youngest child is aged seven or younger. The age limit is being reduced year on year, from 14 in 2011.
The move will affect some 60,000 single parents by July 2015, when children under seven will lose their eligibility.
Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said at the time she would only proceed with the welfare reform if she received a “credible and bankable commitment” on the delivery of a Scandinavian-style childcare system that was safe, affordable and accessible. Many childcare groups, however, point out that childcare in Ireland is among the most expensive in Europe and that many people still have major problems accessing services.
