Yes, childcare is too expensive, says Children’s Minister

MINISTER for Children, Katherine Zappone has said childcare is too expensive as latest figures reveal parents are paying over €1,000 a month in creche fees.

But she also appeared to rule out the controversial ‘granny grant’ proposal.

Ms Zappone said of rising creche fees: ‘It’s too much for parents to pay, I accept that. I think it’s also the case… that there have been decades of underinvestment.’

She added that since 2016, investment in childcare has increased by over 80%. Without that increased investment, prices would probably be higher and fewer children would be benefiting.

‘I do accept that doesn’t necessarily make parents feel any better… but what I can say is that since I’ve come in, we’ve had significant increased investment and I am absolutely determined to continue that path.’

However, the minister ruled out her support of the ‘granny grant’ proposed by independent ministers earlier this month. ‘I don’t think that’s a ‘Too much’: Ms Zappone childcare measure,’ she told Newstalk Breakfast.

‘Childcare measures are increasing investment to support fair wages and quality provisions for children.’

Ms Zappone told listeners that providers will be granted increases of up to 7% from next month, and that next week she will meet Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to discuss childcare costs.

‘My preferred model is a model that is really based on international evidence and that is the one that we are pursuing. If you have a mixture of private and non-profit provider, and that in order to ensure quality, the best way is for us as a government is to provide subsidisation to the costs that the providers offer to the parents. That’s the way in which we can control quality as well so to ensure that the children get the best of education and care.’

Her comments follow a childcare cost survey by Newstalk, which revealed that the cost of putting children in childcare is on the rise.

More than 130 creches and childcare providers throughout the country took part in the survey and were asked for the cost of placing a two-yearold child in full-time care for five days a week.

Dublin was the most expensive county for childcare, with costs now standing at an average of €1,047.49 per month compared to €963.3 in 2013.

The second most expensive county was Wicklow, which broke the €1,000 barrier in 2013, with current average prices now at €1,006.63.

The third highest average price is in Cork, which jumped from €870.78 to €896.65. The average national monthly cost is currently €745, an increase of €40 from 2013.

Longford has the lowest average monthly cost of €650.

Last night Sinn Féin TD Denise Mitchell said the results of the poll which shows the cost of childcare has increased by an average of 5.5% should be a wake-up call for the Government ahead of the Budget in October.

The spokeswoman for children and youth affairs called for an increase in the Universal Childcare Subsidy and an increase in capitation grants to support providers in delivering quality childcare.

She said: ‘We can see from this survey that many parents are paying the equivalent of a second mortgage when it comes to childcare fees.

‘Decades of Government underinvestment in early years services have led us to this situation and this should be a wake-up call to the Government that this needs to be reversed. Not only are parents struggling to cover the costs of childcare, increased administration, wages and rent, many providers are finding it increasingly difficult to break even.’

Dublin was most expensive