Greens Launch Childcare Policy

Press Release: Justice 16 November 2005

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Dún Laoghaire, Environment and Justice Press Releases

16 November 2005

Greens Launch Childcare Policy with Pledge of Parenting Tax Credit of 150 euro per month.

The Green Party launched its Childcare policy today pledging the introduction of a parenting tax credit of €150 per month tax credit per child from birth until the child enters pre-school and €100 from when the child is in pre-school until the age of 12. The tax credit would be refundable - available to people as a cash payment if the parent is not in paid employment. All those in the 20 per cent tax band would be entitled to apply for the tax credit as a way to increase overall family income.

The Party’s Childcare policy document, entitled Childcare: A Commitment to Family and Community Support, includes commitments to introduce a Refundable Parenting Tax Credit, increase Maternity Benefit from 18 to 26 weeks, the introduction of a statutory right to six months Parental Benefit and the initiation of free and universal pre-school education. The Party will also introduce Paternity Benefit which will be provided on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis.

Green Party spokesperson on Equality, Ciarán Cuffe said, “This Childcare Policy forms part of a broader Green Party Children’s Policy, which is firmly rooted in a desire to address the needs of all children growing up in Ireland today. Investing in the well-being of our children and young people can only reap huge rewards for Irish society in years to come. This Policy does what so many others have failed to do and puts children at the very heart of all its considerations.

“The Green Party feels it is vital that we address the quality of childcare in Ireland. At the moment the childcare sector is completely under-regulated. This is simply not acceptable. Under Green Party Policy all childminders will take part in a State recognised training programme. Such a measure will ensure that all children receive a consistent standard of care, regardless of where they are cared for or by whom. The Green Party will also implement the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education.”

Family and Social Affairs spokesperson, Dan Boyle TD said, “The economic basis of Green Party thinking on Child Care is firstly to give appropriate recognition to those parents who choose to and are able to spend as much time as possible with their children in a home environment. Secondly formal recognition needs to be given to the thousands of childminders, many of whom are part of extended families.”

“Ultimately we wish to target resources to whom childcare represents an unacceptably high part of their net outgoings.”

Green Party spokesperson on Childcare, Cllr. Bronwen Maher said that “the Greens believe that parents and guardians are the best placed to judge the kind of childcare that is most appropriate and so will provide resources directly to parents to help them make the best choice for their children”.

"At the core of the Green Party's policy on childcare is the commitment that each family will receive a direct parenting allowance in the form of a refundable tax credit. This will help parents who want to take the option of staying at home for the early years of their child's life."

Furthermore our policy recognises the fact that 80% of children in full time day care are cared for by childminders. This form of paid childcare is not only a very good way to care for children but it is flexible, and represents good value for families and the taxpayer. We want all childminders to be registered, to have greater training and support opportunities and be entitled to a tax-free allowance per child minded."

"We will also increase the State's role in providing childcare in community-based centres, which would ultimately become Children's Centres offering a high quality range of services to parents and carers, including crèche, pre-school, after-school and out-of school care, parent and toddler groups and parenting courses for example.”

Click here to read the Green Party Childcare Policy in full

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com, or Text Ciaran on 087 265 2075.