Labour calls for extension of subsidies for childcare

Labour calls for State subsidies to be extended to private childcare providers in a policy document to be published on Wednesday.

It will make six recommendations including an extension of the State-subsidied childcare sector to public and private providers.

This would allow up to 25,000 low-income families to benefit from access to affordable childcare.

At present, the State provides subsidies to not-for-profit childcare services to support disadvantaged or low-income families who wish to return to work or education.

Many eligible families cannot access the community childcare subvention programme because it is not available in their local area.

This would allow for the extension of these subsidies to private childcare providers for the first time. This would potentially double the number of available affordable places from 25,000 to 50,000.

The report will also call for an increase in child benefit, which has been promised by the Tánaiste Joan Burton.

The party will push for a second free pre-school year to be introduced as soon as possible.

The plan was a core promise made the Coalition but was later ruled out by Minister for Children James Reilly, who claimed there was no money for it. The measures would cost €175 million to implement.

The group, made up of four TDs, will recommend the proposals to be included in the Budget and in the party’s manifesto for the next general election.

Ciara Conway, Joanna Tuffy, Arthur Spring and Michael McCarthy were tasked with compiling a report for Ms Burton.

The working group was asked to prepare proposals on childcare that the Labour Party will put to the electorate in the election campaign.

The results and key recommendations of the report will be released later.