An after-school initiative, grants for childminders in the home, and funding for private creches catering for more than 20 children, were announced yesterday as part of a £40 million Government package of measures to alleviate the childcare crisis.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Donoghue, announced details of the plan.
Speaking about the additional funding for private creches, he said the existing capital grant scheme had been restricted to those catering for fewer than 20 children at any one time. The new scheme would make it possible to secure grants of up to u£40,000 to establish or improve these childcare facilities, and u£9 million was being allocated for this purpose.
This had been identified as an area which needed "immediate attention" by Department officials who had been involved in meetings throughout the State.
The Minister said there were community-based projects of a capital nature, located in areas of disadvantage, which did not come within the scope of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) administered by his Department.
Such projects would be funded by a £5 million grant.
These measures would also assist and fund very small-capacity building projects (less than £1,500) in disadvantaged areas where the groups concerned did not have capacity to make an application under the EOCP.
Community-based projects would receive a £1 million boost where additional funding was warranted because of the facility or the level of disadvantage involved, and where projects could show they were meeting the quality standards required. "This will allow projects maintain the highest quality and retain the necessary staff to do so."
The Minister said staffing grants from the EOCP were available only to community-based, not-for-profit facilities. The Government was now allocating £1 million to be administered through city and county enterprise boards. They would be asked to add childcare workers to their priorities. These grants would be targeted at employment in the private sector.
Mr O'Donoghue said many parents preferred the option of home-based care, especially for babies. Parents often experience difficulties finding creche places for very young children and babies.
While childminders were eligible for capital grants under the EOCP, few had applied. "Perhaps in part because they were unaware that small-scale expenditure such as play equipment is eligible. It is essential, therefore, that supports and incentives be introduced to underpin and expand the provision of child minder places to operate in the formal economy," the Minister said of the £6.5 million package.
The increasing number of childcare facilities and employees meant there was a need to ensure appropriate training and programme support was also growing, he said. "In view of this, £5 million is being provided to significantly expand funding for both the provision of specialist training models and the detailed research of key childcare issues."
A scheme of training grants for self-employed and community-based childcare providers was also being established. These would allow staff to undertake a childcare training course.