Sir, – We are encouraged to see that the Department for Children and Youth Affairs considers subsidised childcare and after-school care provision the preferred approach ("Subsidised fees for after-school care being considered", May 29th) and would strongly urge Minister for Children and Youth Affairs James Reilly to adopt this method.
Subsidised, universal services are much fairer than introducing tax breaks which put excessive costs on the exchequer and too often do not support those families most in need as they are outside the tax net. Conversely, a subsidised system will also improve the standard and quality of care, by regulating minimum standards and overseeing the investment.
As is well-documented, Irish parents pay well over the odds for childcare, compared with other EU and OECD countries. This has a knock-on effect on children, as poor availability of affordable childcare and afterschool care prevents parents, and particularly lone parents, from accessing work and puts more children at risk of poverty.
Child poverty figures in Ireland are scandalously high, with nearly one in eight living in consistent poverty. Every effort must be made to reduce this devastating statistic.
With the economy improving, now is the time to make wise investments in subsidised childcare and after-school care, in the knowledge that it will reap significant benefits to children, families and the exchequer in the long run. – Yours, etc,
JUNE TINSLEY,
Barnardos,
Christchurch Square,
Dublin 8.