CONCERNED Donegal
parents are lobbying a Donegal senator over fears
the cost of childcare will rocket next year.
Sinn Féin's Senator Pearse Doherty said the changes
would require community childcare operators to work
to a tiered fee system according to the income of
service users.
Services will receive subventions – replacing the
current staffing grants – to enable reduced fees to
be charged to parents in receipt of social welfare.
However, Senator Doherty said such payments would
disadvantage parents on low incomes who are not in
receipt of social welfare. He said his office had
begun receiving calls from worried Donegal parents.
“In one example were the household income is €485
the cost of child care will increase by 28% from
December 1, because of this scheme. This makes a
mockery of the Government's claim that the scheme is
for the disadvantaged," said Senator Doherty.
“Without a sufficient number of welfare recipients
on their books community crèches will be forced to
close altogether or raise the fees for those not
qualifying for the subvention."
Senator Doherty called for a full Seanad debate of
the issue. |
