Fees concern over free preschool year

CHILDCARE organisations have expressed concern that creches in the wider Dublin region will be unable to provide the free preschool year to parents as the fee to be paid by the Government won't cover their rent and rates. Latest figures show that five out of six creches and preschools around the country have agreed to take part in the scheme but the Office for the Minister for Children (OMC) has not provided figures for geographic breakdown to the National Creche and Nurseries Association (NCNA), despite a request from it. The free preschool year is due to begin in January.

NCNA director of services Theresa Heaney said she has written a "strongly worded letter" to the OMC warning Children's Minister Barry Andrews he is in danger of dividing the sector if he continues to give "preferential treatment" to those offering sessional services and also requesting another geographic breakdown.

"We have many concerns around the free preschool year, but our main concern is that it won't work for thousands of creches in Dublin which have higher rents and mortgages and rates than elsewhere... and can't survive on €64.50 per week for a morning service... If you need €80 to pay your overheads, then you need to charge more," she said. "I can tell you if it won't work for Dublin... it won't continue in the rest of the country..."

She also described plans by the Government's Valuation Office to waiver rate payments for sessional childcare services providing the free preschool year as "outrageously unfair" on those providing full-time care. Sessional services only work in the afternoon or morning, but not all day. "What if these... services are providing a summer camp or after-school services? They're still exempt from rates and so operating at an unfair competitive advantage."

Ms Heaney also said it was "outrageous" for the Government to offer higher capitation fees to sessional services who have degree-level staff. She said staff with degrees would now be attracted to this division. The OMC has yet to provide the childcare sector with draft contracts outlining how the free preschool year will work. It will then send information to parents of children who are eligible.

An OMC spokeswoman said she expects there will be sufficient places to meet demand, with any shortfalls "being very local".