The Government increased the maximum number of children per staff member in preschools last year despite warnings that the move could place children at risk.
In addition, it pressed ahead with a cut to capitation fees – aimed at incentivising childcare groups to hire highly qualified staff – in the face of advice that it would risk lowering the quality of services. Correspondence shows a range of child development experts warned senior officials these changes would result in a poorer outcome for children. However, the Government implemented the changes last September.
Separately, new figures released to The Irish Times show three creche chains at the centre of allegations of mistreatment have received a total of €4.1 million in State funding over recent years. Most of this funding relates to payments for children taking part in the free preschool year. The Government has pledged to cut funding for childcare providers who are found to be in serious breach of regulations, but there is no suggestion that previous funding will be repaid.
Creche chains
Giraffe, the biggest of the creche chains accused of mistreatment, received a total of €2.3 million; Little Harvard received almost €900,000; while Links received more than €880,000. All three organisations are private chains.
The wider area of commercial childcare will feature in a review being carried out by the HSE into whether there are patterns of non-compliance in the area. Early Childhood Ireland, the main representative body for childcare organisations, pointed out that chains account for a minority of private providers. A total of just over 200 childcare providers - or 5 per cent - of the 4,400 registered have three or more outlets.
In another development, the Government has confirmed it is examining the option of a "significant registration fee" for all private creches and preschools. This would go towards funding training and improvement of services. In an article in today's Irish Times, Gordon Jeyes, the HSE's head of child and family services, says for-profit services have not invested enough in improving standards.
Meanwhile, childcare organisations yesterday accused the Government of hypocrisy for pledging to improve the quality of early years education, while moving to “squeeze” more children into creches.
The changes to staff-child ratios introduced last September increased the maximum number of children in a creche per childcare worker from 10 to 11. These rules apply to services operating the free preschool year. Higher level qualifications in childcare are being incentivised through a higher capitation payment where settings are led by graduates.
Cut capitation
However, the Government last year cut capitation fees to staff with degrees from €75 to €73 per child per week.
Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald last night defended the move, insisting the changes were “minimal” and her priority had been to use scarce resources to maintain the preschool year.
“We considered this very carefully. They’re not significantly linked to what we’ve been talking about in recent days,” Ms Fitzgerald said. “They were in the context of the budgetary situation, and an extra €10 million was secured to maintain the universal nature of the free preschool year.”
