Review of childcare costs may pave way for increased subsidies

Study will investigate why Irish childcare is among the most expensive in Europe

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has commissioned an independent study into the cost of childcare in an effort to secure more funding for a subsidy scheme for parents.
The review will prepare the ground for a pitch for increased funding when the Government has more money to spend in the final budget of the confidence and supply deal with Fianna Fáil, due in October 2018.
Under EU fiscal rules, the amount of money for increasing spending and reducing taxes will increase for the budget that will be outlined in October 2018, and for subsequent budgets.
It is expected that the final report of the childcare study will be completed before the last budget of the confidence and supply deal, with an interim report due to be published next spring.
The room for manoeuvre in the package to be introduced by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe this year will be tight.
Ms Zappone and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had said they will allocate more money towards childcare in this budget, but Ms Zappone believes substantial investment is needed over a number of years.

Read the full article on The Irish Times Website