Dáil hears of ‘deadly serious’ delays in childcare scheme

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Government has been criticised for “deadly serious” delays in expanding the availability of childcare services.

During Leaders’ Questions on Thursday, Labour TD Marie Sherlock said there was “zero urgency” from the Government on the matter.

She said she had “serious questions” about the competency of the Department of Children and Community Development Agency Pobal.

“Last year, parents across this country were told more places were coming, €25 million would be put in place under the building block scheme designed to help existing providers expand.

“The process started, applications closed in January, feedback was June-March, and funding was to be spent in total by this December.

“Instead, not a single penny has been spent.

“Pobal only sent the contracts two weeks ago.

“Now, we learn from providers that there’s missing paperwork.

“The earliest date for construction is two or three months away, and all the while, construction costs have gone up since they were submitted at the start of this year.

“Some providers are telling me now they’re unsure they’ll be able to proceed with their planned expansion, because the original grant is not going to cover the cost of works.

“This is a deadly serious situation; we know there are thousands of families out there on waiting lists for child care.”

Representing the Government, Tánaiste Simon Harris said he would directly speak to Children’s Minister Norma Foley about the issue.

On the broader matter of childcare, Mr Harris added: “We did in the Budget provide funding to expand capacity in the sector while continuing to freeze fees at levels they were four years ago.

“The cost of childcare does need to come down.

“The Minister will publish that road map, that action plan, very shortly, and we do need to, I think, show parents and providers the sequence in which we intend to use to move forward.

“We have outlined a record budget for childcare of almost €1.5 billion.

The national childcare scheme, which has over 250,000 children currently enrolled, will be further funding for an additional 35,000 children next year, that’s a 14 per cent increase.

“And in the coming months, the minister will also set out plans for a new maximum fee cap set from next September, in other words, reducing costs for families paying the highest fees first across the country.”

Ms Sherlock said there was a “serious credibility issue” from the Department of Children.

“We know that mothers are unable to return to work because of the lack of childcare availability out there.

“Parents are having to reduce hours, and of course there are thousands out there who want to rejoin the labour force after many years, and they simply cannot all because of the shortage of child care places.

“And frankly, there’s a lack of urgency on the part of this Government.”

Mr Harris said he wanted to assure the Labour TD that there was “urgency on our part”, adding: “I also think there’s a degree of political consensus around at least the destination, the North Star.

“And I hope once Minister Foley publishes the road map, the action plan, which I expect to be in the coming weeks, that we can have good, collaborative scrutiny and work on these matters.”