Childcare problems remain so acute that tens of thousands of parents are now juggling work and minding their kids and needing grandparents’ help.
The Department of Children has been told in a new study, which it commissioned, that costs remain inaccessible across a wide-range of children’s age groups.
The research states that “almost 50% of parents using non-parental care for children, [who are] not yet in school, found it difficult to pay for it”.
Read More: Additional cash boost for Irish parents could be on the way in 2023, Children's Minister confirms
It shows that the main childcare arrangement for preschool children is parental care (45%), early learning centres (27%), childminders (16%)and grandparents or other relatives (10%).
For school-going children under 15, the main after-school childcare arrangement used was parental care (69%), followed by childcare (11%), grandparents or other relatives (8%), and childminders (7%).
The main childcare arrangement during school holidays was parental care (77%) and grandparents or other relatives (10%).
Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman, published results of the childcare survey, which was held in July, and said “many families continue to face difficulties meeting early learning and childcare costs”.
Two key findings relate to State support available under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the National Childcare Scheme.
It was found that over nine-in-10 parents (91%) are aware of the ECCE support but less than half (48%) are aware of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).
Since August 29 past, all children under 15 and using regulated early learning and childcare, are eligible for a universal subsidy of up to €1,170 per annum under the NCS.
It was announced in Budget 2023 that this sum is to increase from January 2 when the maximum universal subsidy under the scheme will rise to €3,276 per annum.
Childcare costs and the associated difficulties for tens of thousands of families across the country were repeatedly highlighted in the new survey study.
A Department of Children spokesperson said: “When it comes to future investment in early learning and childcare, 31% of parents reported that all children should be the highest priority for Government.
“Some 28% of parents reported that children with additional needs should be the highest priority cohort.”
He added: “The top three improvements identified by parents were more affordable early learning and childcare (23%), more early learning and childcare places (21%), and longer opening hours (10%).”
Minister O’Gorman last month announced a new initiative called the Core Funding Scheme and said it would help 200,000 families’ childcare costs.
The new Core Funding scheme was allocated €259m to fund services in line with their capacity, number of places, hours available and the children’s ages.
Minister O’Gorman announced: “There has been an increase in the number of place hours being offered by services compared to the past two years.
“There is particularly notable increases in place hours for children under three.”
He said of the National Childcare Scheme: “It is currently supporting thousands of families to offset their early learning and childcare costs.
"The results from this survey illustrate, however, that many families continue to face difficulties meeting early learning and childcare costs.
"A fee freeze now is in place in more than 91% of early learning and childcare services.”
He added: “Work is underway to extend regulation to paid, non-relative childminders in line with the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028.
“This will allow the opening up of the National Childcare Scheme to childminders by 2024, enabling more parents to access State subsidies who are not yet able to do so.”
Under the NSC, the two types of childcare support available for children aged from 24 weeks and 15 years of age is a universal subsidy that is not means tested and an income-assessed subsidy that is means tested.
The support can be applied for online at ncs.gov.ie or via the NCS Parent Support Centre helpline on 019068530.
The ECCE programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range.
More information about availability for your area is available from local childcare services that are participating in the ECCE programme.
The new Core Funding scheme is applied for by Early Learning and Care centres (ELCs) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers.
READ NEXT:
- Central Bank governor backs mortgage rule change which will push up house prices
Marc MacSharry's readmission to Fianna Fail 'on hold' due to an 'issue that has arisen'
Vladimir Putin introduces martial law in Russian-held parts of Ukraine
Irish mum fighting stage 4 cancer after developing symptoms when pregnant
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
