Fine Gael should avail of Preschool year to help with their sums - Minister Andrews

In much the same way as Fine Gael has opposed all Government initiatives to restore the country to economic stability, they are now intent on rubbishing the announcement of the provision of a preschool year, according to Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews TD.

Minister Andrews said, "Fine Gael's attack has focused on two fronts: the capacity of the preschool sector to provide the places and the number of staff required to provide the service.  Both criticisms illustrate a great lack of understanding of childcare provision in Ireland today."

"Because of decisions taken in 2000 to introduce the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) and the subsequent National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP), over 70,000 additional childcare places have been created, or will be in place, by the end of 2010.  These 70,000 places are in addition to the 56,000 places that previously existed.  Obviously then, there is strong capacity within the childcare sector to provide this service," continued Minister Andrews.

"There are at least 15,000 three to four year olds (preschool children) in community childcare.  Some 46,000 children avail of preschool services provided by the private sector. It is estimated that there are approximately 22,000 additional places available from vacant places in the private sector.  The figures total up some 83,000 potential places. The final figure will depend on a number of factors, most notably how many crèches choose to participate in the scheme.  However, the potential available places far outnumber the potential take-up."

"Fine Gael seems to think we are starting from scratch.  This is patently not the case."

"On the second point, Fine Gael suggests that the required staffing ratio is one staff member for every five children.  This is simply not the case.  It’s yet again an example of Fine Gael’s inability to get the numbers right.  Under the explanatory guide to the Childcare (Pre-School Services) (no 2) Regulations 2006, the ratio is clearly outlined as one staff member per eight children.  These are the guidelines and ratios currently applied to the sector."

"In terms of equality of access, parents will have an absolute choice in deciding whether to send a child to a private or community preschool facility."

"By the end of 2009, it is expected that 17,000 staff within the childcare sector will have at a minimum a FETAC level 5 or 6 qualification. The suggestion that the workers in the childcare sector are unqualified to deliver a quality pre-school service is untrue, and indeed an insult to those who are already providing the services on the ground."

"Fine Gael has attempted to portray a far sighted initiative that will help guarantee thousands of jobs in the childcare sector as a “sop”.  That practically every NGO working with children in Ireland, from Barnardos to St Vincent de Paul, has welcomed the move should help inform Fine Gael that once again the criticism is misplaced,"said Minister Andrews.

ENDS