Fine Gael will make an attempt in the Dáil tomorrow to try to force the Government to radically change the new Childcare Subvention Scheme due to come into operation next year.
Party spokesman on children Alan Shatter said the scheme threatened to deprive many working and low-income parents of access to childcare and drive some creche providers out of business.
A Fine Gael Private Members' motion will also seek a commitment from the Government to continue providing the existing childcare subvention scheme until the end of next year to allow time for the Department for Children to address all the anomalies and difficulties created by the new scheme.
"There is widespread concern among parents who avail of community childcare facilities, as well as those who operate not-for-profit creches, about the impact of the new Childcare Subvention Scheme that the Government wants to launch in July," said Mr Shatter yesterday .
"This new scheme will impose intolerable financial pressures on many parents by increasing the cost of childcare.
"Under the new scheme, many parents who are in employment and do not receive social welfare will no longer be able to benefit from subventions for childcare services. Many parents who are on modest incomes but who do not qualify for Family Income Supplement will also be affected," he said.
Mr Shatter added that when the new scheme started, these parents would be required to pay substantially higher weekly fees to creches because the withdrawal of current subventions will make it impossible for services to continue without increasing charges.
"The new scheme will force some parents to leave employment and become dependent on social welfare payments. It will mean that parents who currently work in the home will find it much harder to return to the workforce or obtain essential training," he said.
The Fine Gael TD added that many of the groups providing not-for-profit childcare services also had legitimate concerns that the new arrangements would make it financially impossible for them to continue to provide services and there was a real risk that many community childcare groups will no longer be able to operate. "Due to the public outcry generated following the Government's publication of the new scheme, children's Minister Brendan Smith has stated that consideration is being given to revising the scheme. However, the proposed amendments have not been made public and it seems there is no possibility of any specific changes being announced before next March.
"It is grossly irresponsible of the Minister to leave both parents and those managing community creches in a state of limbo and expect everyone to muddle through until he gets around to amending this poorly thought-out scheme," said Mr Shatter.
