The Irish Government is set to tackle the cost of childcare in Ireland, according to The Irish Independent.
It says that Minister for Health and Children, Dr James O’Reilly is set to establish a seven-department committee to examine ways in which Ireland can better target its €260 million spend on childcare. However, there will be concerns that funding child-care will come at the expense of families who choose to look after their children at home, as has happened in other countries.
Elements to be examined by Dr O’Reilly’s committee towards bringing relief to parents include tax breaks and family subsidies. If accepted, these elements look set to become part of an ‘affordability of childcare’ scheme to be rolled out over a number of budgets, commencing in 2015 ahead of the country’s General Election early next year.