Parents should not have to face childcare “dilemma”, says Currie

Fine Gael TD Emer Currie has said that parents should not have to face a dilemma with childcare.

The Dublin West TD said, “parents should not have to choose between collecting their children early and keeping their childcare subsidies, yet parents contacting me have described that dilemma: paying for a childcare place, then facing higher bills because they can spend more time with their children.”

Currie welcomed the commitment to reduce childcare costs in October’s Budget, but said that her government colleagues need to go further to drive down costs for parents.

“I welcome the improvements in affordability in Budget 2027, but the rules must reflect family life,” she said.

Currie highlighted the current system, where parents often have to sign up to fixed childcare hours. 

She explained, “many will pay until 6 p.m. because that is what the service offers or because their working arrangements require that flexibility. Collecting children at 5 p.m. does not reduce their childcare bill but repeated early collections can lead to a reduction in their subsidy. Less care is required, the cost stays the same, and yet, the parent pays more.”

The Fine Gael TD discussed a number of stories that were relayed to her by frustrated parents.

One parent described losing the subsidy for the final hour of after-school care, despite paying the full fee until 6 p.m. She had to pay an additional €120 on top of her childcare bill. 

Another parent paying over €1,000 per month shared a notice from their crèche about designated NCS compliance weeks when children are expected to attend all of the registered hours or face additional charges. 

A third parent who has three children in childcare, including a baby, and is on maternity leave, described her child’s childcare package, which includes a breakfast club for one of her sons. She says she has been told to send him to breakfast club and leave him in childcare until 5.30 p.m. for one week out of every eight. 

Currie asked, “why should she wake her child up earlier, bring him to childcare she does not need and give up that precious time she could have with him when she is already paying for her place anyway? We should not have a system that creates a financial disincentive for parents to spend more time with their children.

She said that the current set-up “is an example of when rules and common sense collide, and parents pay the price.”

In recent weeks, an independent evaluation of the national childcare scheme was announced, which Currie welcomed, but said that the rulebook must be changed to support parents and childcare providers alike.

“Childcare professionals would prefer to be spending their time caring for children and not policing how long parents leave them in childcare,” she said.