Childcare fee increases
Deputy Boyd Barrett described sharp fee increases at Discoveries crèches and argued for a proper national childcare system. The Tánaiste said funding had risen and costs had fallen, but would ask the Minister for Children to engage on the specific case.
I have been contacted this week by a number of families whose children go to the Discoveries Crèche and Montessori School in Shankill. I understand something similar has happened at the Discoveries crèche in Firhouse. The organisation has decided to pull out of core funding because it is inadequate and therefore the parents are being told they will endure a 28% increase in childcare fees. For one woman, this means her childcare costs for two children will go up to €2,000 a month. For another couple with three children, the costs will go up to €2,500 a month and in their case, they are saying one of them will probably have to give up work. This is very serious and is a result of the inadequacy of core funding. These cases are not isolated cases. We need proper investment to ensure childcare is made affordable, either by increasing core funding-----
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-----or, as we propose, by introducing a proper national childcare system.
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There has, without question, been an exponential increase in funding towards childcare and a reduction in cost for parents in particular. There was a 25% reduction last year and by the end of this year, there will be a further 25% reduction. I am not familiar with the details of the individual case the Deputy raises regarding a Discoveries crèche. I will talk to the Minister for children in this respect and will ask him to engage with the Deputy on the details of that particular case.