Greens say State must take 'greater role in the delivery and provision of childcare'
A Benefit Impact A For Meaningful One Payment Would O’gorman €560 New Off Said Parents Roderic He Child Provide Believed
The State must take an “even greater role in the delivery and provision of childcare” due to the lack of community and private providers, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has said.
The Children’s Minister has pushed for further State intervention in the childcare sector, while also pressing for a one-off €560 child benefit payment for parents upon the birth of a new child.
As part of the Green’s election manifesto, Mr O’Gorman said that he was proposing that the State steps in to provide childcare services, as well as providing a legal right to two years of free preschool.
On the State delivering childcare services, Mr O’Gorman said this must be done in areas where there is a low supply alongside both private and community providers.
“We don’t have enough supply of early learning and care places.
“Recognising that right now, neither the community or the private sector providers are able to meet all of that demand. I think that the State actually has to start providing it directly.”
On a one-off €560 child benefit payment, Mr O’Gorman said that he believed it would provide a meaningful impact for new parents upon the arrival of a new child. The proposal itself is to quadruple the existing €140 child benefit payment that is provided to new parents.
Mr O'Gorman has made the pitch ahead of the final budget by the Coalition government, saying it would assist with financial pressures following the birth of a new child.
“We’re very aware of the extra financial pressure that all new parents face on the arrival of a newborn. A new cot, a new baby seat, a new sterilizer. All those really basic, but quite expensive pieces of equipment,” Mr O’Gorman said, speaking on RTÉ Radio One.
Mr O’Gorman said that the “boost payment” would have a tangible and meaningful impact for parents at a time when “bills are racking up”.
He said the Green Party would bring their proposal to negotiations with both Finance Minister Jack Chambers and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe.
“We think at a time where we have the opportunity to provide investments, to provide support, this is a really meaningful support to a group of parents who really need this extra financial support,” Mr O’Gorman added.
Asked if he would like to see the €560 payment alongside an increase to the core rate of child benefit, Mr O’Gorman said that it would need to be looked at in the “scope of all the other financial demands” ahead of Budget 2025.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said that while he would not comment directly on the Green Party’s proposal, he welcomed the emphasis on children and tackling child poverty for other parties in the budget.
“It's an absolute priority for me, and I welcome the fact that it's a priority for others in the coalition that this budget has a real focus on children, families, tackling child poverty, and making sure that every child gets off to the best start in life,” Mr Harris said.
He said that how the Government acts on child poverty in the October 1 budget would be teased out ahead of that date.
Meanwhile, speaking in Newry on Monday, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that Mr O'Gorman's idea was "interesting" but said some proposals around the budget needed a "reality check".
"With three members of government, different parties coming into a budget, people will put forward ideas like that, and we will be having the first of our meetings this evening. There'll be a number of meetings."
Mr Martin said the summer economic statement has set out broadly the parameters "in respect of what's possible within the tax package and what's possible within the public expenditure package".
"And so therefore people, when they read all the various proposals and floating ideas that have been floated, should always revert back to the summer economic statement for the reality check."
Taoiseach Simon Harris said that while he would not comment directly on the Green Party’s proposal, he welcomed the emphasis on children and tackling child poverty for other parties in the budget.
“It's an absolute priority for me, and I welcome the fact that it's a priority for others in coalition, that this budget has a real focus on children, families, tackling child poverty and making sure that every child gets off to the best start in life,” Mr Harris said.