Budget 2023 is just weeks away from being announced as the Government looks set to introduce a string of measures to tackle the cost of living crisis.
Parents across the country have been struggling with rising energy, grocery and childcare bills over the past year and will be hoping the Budget will provide them with some relief.
Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman said on Thursday that he hopes to see childcare fees fall by 50 per cent over the next two years.
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He told RTE’s Claire Byrne: “We want to see a 50% average cut in childcare fees across this Budget and the next Budget.”
Minister O’Gorman said the Government was focusing on improving affordability for parents and said the Green Party wants a “significant increase” in the National Childcare Scheme, which reduces childcare costs.
He said: “There is broad support across the coalition and abroad recognition that the cost of childcare is that is a major burden on families right now. And it’s something that we need to work to alleviate.”
A new wage deal for childcare workers that would see the minimum pay of €13 per hour will also be signed off in the coming weeks as part of an Employment Regulation Order.
The change will bring in an entry rate level rate per hour.
Minister O’Gorman, the new measure will allow the Government to roll out its new €221 million euro “core funding” for the childcare sector to providers.
He said core funding had been designed to address the fact that so many workers “feel undervalued” as their “wages don’t represent the importance of their work in society”.
Adding: “We hope to see that Employment Regulation Order signed in the next number of weeks that’s being negotiated between employers and trade union representatives over the summer.
“Once that has been signed, the core funding that we agreed in last year’s budget will flow to childcare providers, and that will immediately impact positively on the pay for childcare.”
The Government is also expected to announce a once-off double payment of the monthly €140 child benefit sum as part of a cost-of-living package to be announced on Budget day.
Those in receipt of child benefit payments could be in line for a €280 one-off payment if they have one child or €560 if they have two.
If the Government agrees to the policy, parents will receive a huge boost, with a family with three children eligible to receive €840.
A family with twins would also get €840 as they receive one-and-a-half times the normal rate per child.
The plans under consideration by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys could see the payment made before Christmas.
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