Government views promises to parents as ‘non-binding’, Dail told

A failure to confirm a further 25% cut to childcare costs shows the Government views promises to parents as non-binding, the Dail has been told.

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore made the claim as she pressed Tanaiste Micheal Martin to commit to a measure pledged by Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman two years ago.

Mr O’Gorman said fees for childcare would be halved across two years. Last year’s budget delivered a 25% cut, but ministers have not yet confirmed that next week’s budget will include the second 25% reduction.

Mr Martin told Leaders’ Questions on Thursday that negotiations between Mr O’Gorman and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe on the fees issues were ongoing.

Ms Whitmore asked was the Government set to renege on its pledge.

“Why do senior ministers of your government view promises to parents as non-binding?” she asked the Tanaiste.

“Instead of being focused on cutting fees, ministers seem more concerned with trying to manage expectations down.”

Addressing Mr Martin, the Wicklow TD added: “The question for you is – is your government going to meet the commitment that you made to parents, or are you going to leave them behind yet again?

“Because what we’ve seen is over successive governments is the role of parents is forgotten, the impact of having a new family is forgotten by this government.

“So are you going to meet your commitment to reduce childcare costs by 50%?”

Mr Martin said he was not going to “pre-empt” the budget announcement on Tuesday.

“I would say to you that our commitment to progress in childcare stays,” he said.

“But I’m not getting into specifics today, a week ahead of the budget.

“And I think the minister (O’Gorman) is still engaging with the Minister for Public Expenditure on this and indeed on other issues.”

The Tanaiste branded as “outrageous” the suggestion that the Government had not delivered for parents.

“That doesn’t stack up at all across the full range of measures that we’ve taken in the last three budgets in respect of childcare more generally, but also in terms of support of maternal care, leave and so on. We’ve done a whole range of measures.

“I don’t believe it’s a credible or fair assertion to make that you just made, it just defies any realistic understanding.”

Asked about a criticism from the Social Democrats that he had reneged on a promise to cut childcare fees by 50% over two budgets, Mr O’Gorman said there were other priorities other than that measure.

“We, like many other departments, are still in the middle of our estimates discussion with Minister Donohoe at the moment,” Mr O’Gorman said at the launch of a 99 bus route to the Phoenix Park.

“I’ve set out very clearly what my aim is in the budget next year, it’s to continue to cut costs for parents.

“But I have other objectives as well in terms of broadening access to childcare for particularly children with disabilities, bringing childminders into the system so that parents who use childminders can benefit there as well.

“So that’s a range of objectives, all have a cost, all are a really significant investment in supporting parents and supporting children. So there’s some more work to be done over the next number of days.

“But I hope on Budget day next week, we’ll be able to continue our progress in reducing the cost of childcare for parents.”