Disappointment – Early Childcare Payment Is To Go

Cllr Catherine Murphy has expressed her disappointment that the “Early Childcare Supplement”  is to be halved in 2009 and abolished in 2010.  

The supplement was  introduced following the Kildare North  by-election in 2005 in which Cllr Murphy was elected to the Dail.  During her by-election  campaign she highlighted the lack of affordable/available childcare  as one of the major issues facing young families in the Kildare North Area.   Those young families themselves firmly placed Childcare on the  National Agenda when they continuously raised the issue with canvassers from all parties.     Many spoke of the cost as equating to a second mortgage payment every month.  

In the 2006 budget the Early Childcare Supplement was introduced by the then  Minister for Finance,  Brian Cowen TD.  In his budget speech on the subject he stated  “a complete solution will take time” suggesting more action would follow.   Interestingly many of the supports to property speculators  were retained in the same budget.

The payment is now to be replaced by a pre-school place for every child,  this in itself is a good initiative,  not least because  there is a demonstrated  educational advantages  to early education,  however,   it fails to address the very real cost of childcare for many young families.   While the “Early Childcare Supplement” was of some assistance,  the lions share of the cost of childcare is borne by the parents themselves,  who at the same time will see their income reduce with the imposition of levies,  the loss of tax relief on mortgage payments etc.

The pre-school  places  we are  told will  not form part of the National School system but will  be  delivered through private playschools.   Cllr Murphy has expressed concern about the ability of the sector to deliver a place for every child.   The Government,  she believes will not be forgiven for scrapping the early supplement   particularly  if a pre-school place for every child does not materialise.

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Posted by catherinemurphy on April 10, 2009. Filed under Children & Youth. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.