PRESS RELEASE

17/11/2005

Budget Estimates signal move to solve childcare crux - Kelleher

Cork North-Central Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher has said the Government’s decision to provide €2.3 billion to help meet childcare needs ahead of announcing further measures in the forthcoming Budget will be a welcome relief for young families across the city and county.

‘When he published his Book of Estimates, the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen TD, confirmed that he is providing €1.96 billion for child benefit in 2006. In addition, there will be €102 million for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme. That funding will bring the number of childcare places funded under the programme to 30,000 by the end of next year.

‘Childcare is the greatest challenge facing the young communities in Cork city. I have constantly lobbied senior ministers to deliver on this issue. The announcement as part of the Book of Estimates is certainly a move in the right direction,’ said Deputy Kelleher, deputy Government chief whip.

He said the Government is already spending record amounts of money on community-based childcare facilities. In the past few months, for example, Mayfield Community Preschool got €24,500 and Mayfield Integrated Community Development Project Ltd received €94,822.

‘Minister Cowen has given a commitment to return to this issue in the Budget next month. I am hopeful that he will be in a position to give more details on his childcare plans.

‘In these final weeks before the Budget, I will again make contact with Minister Cowen’s office and ask that this is treated as a priority issue. Fianna Fáil in Government has worked with communities to ease the modern-day pressures on families but there is a realisation that more work is needed. This announcement will help meet the further challenges,’ said Deputy Kelleher.

ENDS