Bríd Smith, the People Before Profit TD, has claimed that a large childcare provider is effectively circumventing official Government policy which promised to freeze childcare fees at 2021 levels for parents.
The TD highlighted how Safari Childcare have implemented new pricing policies, the effect of which is to force fees up for parents or have them face the withdrawal of after-school services.
Either way, parents are being punished the TD said.
Bríd Smith explained that the chain had first told parents of children in their centres that they must sign up for the entire summer after-school service and pay for the full period even if not availing of the service.
If parents didn’t agree to this and pay the fees required, the chain threatened the children’s future places in their centres in the new school term. Following complaints from parents about what was an effective fee increase, the chain has now told parents that it is withdrawing all after-school services from August, placing huge pressure on many families.
The TD said this case highlighted many flaws with the core funding model and raised questions about how effective the promise of a freeze on fees is.
She said: “This case highlights the flaws with current childcare policy and the reliance on private for-profit firms whose service can be cut or withdrawn regardless of its impact on families. It’s clear that the attempt to charge for after-school hours out of school term is a way of circumventing the freeze on fees given that many parents struggle to secure a place for their children in a childcare centre close to them.”
The TD said she intends to raise the issue with Minister O’Gorman and see what influence the state has over private childcare providers in such a situation.
