The Government strategy on childcare funding and inspection is the correct one, argues Brendan Smith
Kathy Sheridan asked the rhetorical question: who cares? when it comes to Irish childcare policy (WeekendReview, January 19th). She argued trenchantly that the Government is failing Irish children and their parents.
As Minister for Children, I was disappointed that her extensive analysis was so lacking in balance. While acknowledging that our childcare system is not perfect, I would argue that tremendously positive developments have taken place in recent years - a fact that Sheridan clearly does not recognise.
Her suggestion that the new subvention scheme has been introduced as a way to "give the sector less money" is clearly untrue as the scheme has a substantially increased level of funding to over €50 million in 2008 compared with €37 million in 2007.
Of even more surprise, was her suggestion that I introduced the new scheme in recent months in response to a complaint from a Roscommon councillor that he was "getting childcare on the cheap". In fact, the scheme was developed as part of the Value for Money Review of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP), which was completed in June 2007.
The decision to develop a national childcare policy was taken in the context of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 and was a critical moment in our economic and social development. These initial steps, resulted in the EU co-funded Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006, with an investment of €535 million. Central to this initiative was investment both in childcare facilities and in quality measures through the establishment and support of the City and County Childcare Committees, childcare organisations and training for childcare workers.
The 2006 National Childcare Strategy formalised the EOCP's multi-pronged approach into the exchequer-funded National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP).
With an allocation of €575 million, the NCIP was paralleled by the development of a new National Childcare Training Strategy and a range of measures including increased entitlements to maternity leave and the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS).
Over the years 2000-2010, an investment of nearly €600 million in capital alone will create 85,000 new childcare places, 35,000 of which are already in place.
Very significant increases in Child Benefit since 2002 and the introduction of the Early Child Supplement in 2006, mean that parents with two children under six, now receive over €6,000 tax-free per annum in direct payments towards their childcare costs.
A misconception repeated by Sheridan, is that children will be "ghettoised" by the new scheme as there will be no incentive for non-welfare families to enrol their children in community creches. She seems to insinuate that the new scheme targets parents on social welfare, who would not have any need for childcare services. In many cases, parents on social welfare, including lone parents and those on back to employment schemes or in training, do require full-time day-care. Many will also want to avail of pre-school services to improve their children's readiness for education.
She also conveniently fails to mention that the scheme, as finalised, is not confined to parents on social welfare and includes subvention rates for working parents on low incomes.
I brought the value for money review and my proposal for the new scheme to the Cabinet in July 2007 and was able to bring final details to Government before Christmas. I believe the new scheme represents a further important step in the incremental development and support of childcare services in Ireland.
Brendan Smith is Minister of State with responsibility for children at the Department of Health and Children