Tánaiste warns against ‘half baked’ proposals on childcare

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has warned against “half baked” proposals on childcare and said that the focus should be on the development of the child.

Mr Martin was asked about what the party’s vision for reforming the childcare and early education after the Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and the Green Party set out their stalls.

Many parents have raised issues with accessing childcare places while providers say costs are rising and retaining staff is a challenge.

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has said that the early years sector should be part of the education system, while Sinn Fein has pledged that if they get into government, from September parents will pay no more than 10 euro a day per child for childcare.

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has said that he believes the State should play a greater role in childcare.

Asked about what his party’s proposal is, Mr Martin said that different parties have been claiming “we own childcare”.

“Every party in Dáil Éireann wants to advance childcare in this country, including Fianna Fáil and in fact, I was first, I think, to host, 20 odd years ago, a national forum on early education,” he said.

Mr Martin said that there had merely been suggestions proposed instead of “substantive” policy documents.

“What has happened over time is we have evolved the childcare sector through ECCE and various schemes, and the state has got more involved in terms of subvention.

“I favour greater state invention in terms of early education and in terms of childcare.

“I think the focus should always be on the development of child.

“That has to be centre stage in terms of early education and childcare.

“But in addition to that, there are areas where we are not as strong as we should be, and in particular in the area of special education in the early years.”

Mr Martin said that the government had invested greatly into making childcare affordable and increasing access.

“So whatever proposals emerge have to take on board all of the providers who are currently in there.

“I mean, if we just throw out ideas without any substance behind them, a lot of those providers could take flight, could be extremely concerned.

“They have invested now in the government’s plans.

“They’ve invested in their facilities.

“A lot of community play groups have, and they won’t want to be told ‘Actually there’s no more role for you anymore, because there’s a half-baked idea about something in schools’.”

He added: “I’m just hearing things, but I’m not hearing how you do them.”