The Coalition has pledged a childcare cost cap of €200 per month per child during the lifetime of the Government
Children’s minister Norma Foley has said there needs to be a “considerable breakthrough” towards cutting childcare costs to €200 per month in next month’s Budget.
She told reporters at Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party think-in that it would be “remiss” of her to negotiate the exact figure in public, but that there is support to make a “very significant cut”.
Ms Foley added that she is looking for the “maximum” reduction in childcare costs possible in what she said must be a “breakthrough budget” for parents.
She said the introduction of maximum fee caps and the increase of the threshold for lower income households to benefit from great subsidies were “key” this year.
“For many of them – there’s 25pc at present – who are either at the €200 payment or in fact are paying much less than that,” said Ms Foley.
“The goal is to ensure that we get that opportunity for everyone. So I believe we have the goodwill, I believe I have the support to make a very significant cut if you like, or advancement in terms of achieving that goal of €200 in this budget.”
It comes as a recent Irish Independent survey of 142 creches nationwide found the average monthly childcare fee is €845 before subsidies apply.
Some 117 creches had waiting lists of at least one year, with a number claiming they had over 200 children looking for a place.
The Coalition has pledged a childcare cost cap of €200 per month per child during the lifetime of the Government.
Speaking today in Tullamore, Ms Foley said the upcoming Budget must be a “breakthrough” towards achieving that goal.
There has been criticism from the Opposition in recent months that has accused the Government of lacking a clear “roadmap” to achieving the promised reductions.
The measures introduced in last year’s Budget focused on increasing capacity within the early learning and childcare sector and the introduction of a new maximum fee cap.
Last October, Ms Foley said accessibility, the reduction of costs and the retention of staff need to be addressed within the sector.
She said it was the “first budget of five” to look at what must be a “step-by-step process” and that fee reductions would be “incremental”.
“If we don’t have staff, there is no point having places and there is no point increasing places,” she said.
“If we were to put all our focus and all the resources I have just into reducing fees, I wouldn’t have the staff in place, nor would I have the places for children to attend.”