Social Democrats propose monthly cap on childcare fees

Childcare fees would be capped at €250 a child per month under proposals published by the Social Democrats - who hope to build a public model.

The party said the cap would be introduced immediately, at a cost to the Exchequer of €200-€250 million.

Spokesperson on Children, Jennifer Whitmore, said the Social Democrats would use budget surpluses to buy existing childcare facilities on a voluntary basis.

The Wicklow TD said the party had spoken with smaller childcare providers, many of whom want to sell their businesses, but continue working in the sector, if job security and conditions are improved.

"They love working with children, but they may not necessarily want to be business owners. And so, I think ... the smaller ones will be happy with it," she said.

Asked if private childcare would be abolished under their model, Deputy Whitmore said: "We may not ever get it to a 100% fully public model, but we would hope to get as close as possible.

"When you talk to the smaller entities, they're really squeezed out by the current system, and it's the larger corporates that are actually doing well out of the current model and the subsidies."

The Social Democrats have stressed the importance of building additional facilities in disadvantaged areas, saying the benefits of high-quality early childhood education go far beyond increased workforce participation for parents of young children.

The party wants to ensure access to full daycare throughout the year for children who are at risk of poverty and social exclusion.

Councillor Jen Cummins, general election candidate in Dublin South-Central, said: "Children experiencing adverse childhood experiences such as living in homelessness, having a parent in crisis, or trying to survive poverty are less likely to engage in early childhood education and care, and this can be a cost issue, but it can also be an issue of getting the child there."

Under the plan, parents in deprived areas could also get support from trained staff in these units.

Cllr Cummins said: "Such a high-quality service aims to break the cycle of poverty by providing supporting care to families when they don't see it."

The Social Democrats called for a national agency to oversee the move to public childcare.

The party also suggested that any new schools should have a dedicated childcare facility on the same campus, to avoid multiple drop-offs for parents.