Consideration is being given to allocating spare accommodation in schools for childcare facilities, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern revealed.
Agreeing with concern expressed by Green Party leader Trevor Sargent about children going to school at 7am and returning home at 7pm, Mr Ahern added: "That would not be an easy position for any child. There has long been an argument that spare capacity in schools, particularly classrooms, should be used."
He added that he would not object to them as an appropriate environment for childcare facilities, and Minister for Education Mary Hanafin had told him discussions on the issues were ongoing.
Mr Sargent said that every deputy had received representations from many parents facing the high cost of childcare.
"Many parents face Hobson's choice - unwilling to work due to the cost of childcare, yet having to work to pay a mortgage," he added.
Mr Sargent said that many school buildings were dilapidated and substandard.
He asked if the Government's view was "permanent school detention, as some children might see it".
Mr Ahern said that following discussions, the Government decided some years ago to put resources into child benefit.
"The benefit increased substantially from less than 0.5 billion euros annually to more than €2 billion, but did not solve all the problems," he added.
"We also increased the number of childcare places to 40,000. I know that is not enough and that people incur substantial costs in this regard. Many other proposals for improvement are now coming forward."
Mr Ahern said the Government did not have a closed mind on looking at the suggestions made under the equal opportunities childcare programme, and many of them would be aired at the meeting of the women's rights committee.
Mr Sargent said the Taoiseach must ask himself who would rear the nation's children. "Are they to be increasingly institutionalised, or will the Government come seriously to the aid of parents who choose to raise their children themselves? Will the aid be in the form of properly funded parental leave?" he added.
Mr Ahern said that childcare decisions had been left with families, and a person who reared a child at home all of the time got increases in benefit at the same level as others. That Government decision was made after the long debate which took place in 1999 and 2000.
"The benefit was increased from about €38 at the time to €141 currently," he added.
