Far more new resources for daycare of children, rather than homecare, have been announced in the latest budget.
Speaking in the Dail, Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe said the credit for home carers – available to those who stay at home to mind children or an older person – will be increased by €300 to €1,500.
However, the Minister said funding for early learning and childcare will increase by just under €90 million to €574 million. This funding supports both the ECCE Pre-School Programme and the Affordable Childcare Scheme.
He told the Dail the income thresholds for the Affordable Childcare Scheme will increase so that the base income threshold is being raised from €22,700 to €26,000; the maximum income threshold will go from €47,500 to €60,000; and the multiple child deduction will increase from €3,800 to €4,300.
The Stay-At-Home Parents Association Ireland, in acknowledging the increase of €300 in Home Carer Tax Credit in the Budget, noted that in net terms this might amount to an extra €2 a week and that “those who fall outside of the tax bracket or who are cohabiting will not benefit”.
Spokesperson for the association Pauline O’Reilly said ‘after tax this amounts to very little and those who really need the support most are left out in the cold. Even as it stands it is below the increase in social welfare payments.’
‘All children matter regardless of the income of their families. We have been calling for the Universal Affordable Childcare Scheme payment to be paid directly to families so that they can make a decision over how and where children are cared for.’
‘Those who are Stay-At-Home Parents make up the majority of parents in the country and receive no social welfare benefits as they are not considered to be available for work,’ she said.
