Parents would pay subsidised fees for after-school care for children, with those in lower income groups paying less, under measures being considered by the Coalition to address childcare costs.

Minister for Children James Reilly has established a group to examine the issue of childcare, and it is due to issue its final report by the end of June.

An after-school programme exists for low income and unemployed parents, with the State contributing €40 for each child, with a maximum fee of €15 a week payable by parents.

Sources said this may be widened to take in parents in other income groups, although contributions would rise for those earning more.

Safety standards

A draft copy of the group’s report, seen by

The Irish Times

, cites the example of

New Zealand

, where subsidies are provided for children attending services that meet certain safety and quality standards.

The New Zealand model sees care programmes open from 7am to 8.30am before school, as well as running until 5.30pm after school.

Programmes are also in place during holidays.

The draft report’s other recommendations include paid paternity leave, and extending periods of shared parental leave to as much as a year, which would be phased in over a number of years.

While a childcare tax credit was considered, and favoured by many parents surveyed by the group, it “would involve a substantial cost to the exchequer, upwards of €640 million per annum” and is unlikely to be put in place.

A spokesman for Dr Reilly said: “There are likely to be several further draft reports developed before the group completes its work.

Recommendations “are subject to debate and may therefore be changed, revised, may become more detailed, or indeed removed entirely”.