Fine Gael anger at childcare underspend

Fine Gael today outlined a series of measures which it claims will address the lack of affordable childcare places, describing the underspend of €19 million from the 2001 childcare budget as a scandal.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which is responsible for funding child minding facilities for children of all ages, said delays in the start up of a number of creche and other childcare support services had led to the underspend last year.

Grants of more than €100 million have been handed out to assist with capital development costs, staffing and improvements to facilities in crèches, playgroups, childminding and after-school groups, according to the Department.

The €19 million which wasn't spent last year contributed to the State's €650 million Exchequer surplus for 2001.

Fine Gael’s spokeswoman on equality and family affairs Ms Frances Fitzgerald today said, in Government her party will introduce a personal tax credit equivalent to 20 per cent of vouched childcare expenses on spending up to a maximum €5,000 per child, initially up to age five.

The party also proposed an annual pre-school capitation payment of up to €1,200 per child to promote the development of quality pre-school.

The tax position of stay-at-home parents who have been disadvantaged by the individualisation process should be enhanced, Fine Gael claims.

This morning in a live Question and Answer session on ireland.com, the Labour Party leader Mr Ruairí Quinn restated the party's €800 million childcare policy.

"We will give 66 weeks paid parental leave to be decided by both parents. We will then give €50 per child to the parent to enable them to decide whether to stay at home or purchase childcare.

"We will establish a network of childcare places throughout the country providing a pre-school place as of right for every child. The location of these places will be in community centres and the existing primary school network," Mr Quinn said.

In its manifesto, Fianna Fáil said it would ensure that every county implements a childcare strategy by the end of 2002, and provide the funding and planning to significantly increase childcare places. The party added that a married couple on average earnings now receives almost €2,000 per year extra in child benefit.

Among the childcare proposals put forward by the Progressive Democrats are addressing funding difficulties, staff shortages and planning difficulties and providing an extra 40,000 childcare places.

Capital grants for childcare facilities would be increased from €20 million to €60 million annually and introduce a special 2-year visa for international child minders, the party said.