Promise of second year of free pre-school care in doubt within lifetime of Government. Minister for Children James Reilly has established a working group, which includes representatives from several Government departments, to look at the childcare issue. Photograph Above: Collins
Government efforts to make childcare more affordable and allow increased numbers of parents to enter the workplace are likely to focus on widening access to after-school care.
However, doubt is being cast within Government on whether it can deliver on the promise of a second free pre-school year within its term of office.
The Coalition has accepted in principle the idea of introducing a second year of free pre-school, a proposal that was included in a 2013 report into child benefit for Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton. It is understood it is currently unclear if this will happen in next year’s budget due to financial constraints. The budget will include other childcare measures but tax breaks are now seen as unlikely.
Reforms
Childcare has been identified as one of the long-term structural reforms to be addressed in the spring economic statement, due to be unveiled in April. It has also been consistently highlighted as a problem by the European Union.
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