THERE was a very mixed reaction to the childcare measures in yesterday’s Budget with some welcoming it while others blasted it for not nearly going far enough.
Cara O’Regan from Douglas with daughters Ava and Chloe.
A new single affordable childcare scheme will start from September 2017 and will provide means-tested subsidies for kids aged 6 months to 15 years, and universal subsidies for all children aged 6 months to three years. The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) hailed it as a “breakthrough for the provision of childcare.”
Orla O’Connor, director of NWCI, said: “After almost two decades of campaigning by NWCI and other advocacy groups, the Government is finally acknowledging its responsibility to tackle the enormous affordability crisis in childcare. The childcare package is the first step to developing a publicly subsidised universal childcare model, similar to the models available in many other European countries.”
Cara and Clive O’Regan from Douglas are parents to Chloe, aged six, and Ava, almost two. Cara said the budget did not really address those young parents who try to do all the childminding themselves along with grandparents.
She said: “If they really want to help families, they should look at Sweden with great maternity and paternity leave. Mothers can request a 25% reduction in working hours so it is so much easier for women to stay in the workplace. I know loads of very qualified mothers who have had to leave great jobs as there is no allowance for working mothers. In Sweden, the Government also pays a certain number of days when children are sick. Hopefully, the increased investment in health will reduce waiting times for children across all departments. I am pleased to hear of the sugar tax though.”
Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central and spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said parts were “not unwelcome” but said it fell far short of what was needed.
He said: “The level of subsidy is far less than what we were proposing. This will still leave very significant bills. It also does not address the needs of childcare workers themselves. It is a concern that it only addresses affordability. We also want to see more publicly funded childcare. There is a long, long way to go.”
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