Serious concerns are being voiced that a number of Cork Childcare Centres will be forced to up their prices because of the introduction of a new childcare scheme.

From January 2008, the current EU funded Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme will be replaced by a new scheme, the NCIP Community Childcare Subvention Scheme 2008 - 2010, and already community childcare centres have outlined worries that they will have to increase charges, cut staff or even close as a result of the new funding changes.

Cork based TD, Deputy Deirdre Clune will this week bring the issue of Community Childcare funding to the floor of the Dail following concerns that the new funding scheme will reduce childcare support for young working parents on low-incomes and force them back in to the welfare trap.

According to Cork South Central TD, the current EU funded scheme, which has operated since 2000, focused on getting parents, especially women, off welfare and back to work but the new scheme will destroy the progress made over the last six years.

She said that the new childcare funding scheme is "a poorly thought out revision of the current system" and is seriously concerned that it will cut adrift families on low incomes and make their attempts to keep their financial head above water that much more difficult.

"There are 41 community childcare centres in Cork City alone which will be affected by these changes and not one will be better off as a result of the new scheme. One such childcare centre will now have to increase its weekly charges from €125 to €190 for a child, forcing working families already struggling, to struggle even more or go back on welfare. Voluntary boards of childcare centres across the country are facing the same dilemma; either cut staff and reduce services or charge struggling working parents more if they are to avoid closure," she said.

Concluding, Deputy Clune added, "European funding brought childcare in Ireland out of the dark ages but this Government now seems intent on dragging it back. The Government seems willing to risk the loss of Community Childcare services nationwide. This move will have a devastating effect on local communities and the Minister must immediately review his decision."

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