Description:
The fees that parents pay for early care and education services in Ireland are among the highest in the world. At the same time, the quality is variable, with high costs being no guarantee of high quality. Government action is needed to reduce costs to parents, and the quality of services must rise if children are to benefit.
How can we achieve the "double dividend" of affordability and high quality? Tax credits won't improve quality, and won't help the most disadvantaged. This policy brief recommends an approach based on public investment in services, with funding linked to quality.
In this brief:
Three arguments for why early care and education services need to be both high quality and affordable.
- To promote child development
- To provide family suport
- To support families to exit poverty through employment
Start Strong recommends supply-side subsidies, public investment in young children, linking money to quality, services that are accessible for all children, lower costs for families.
Read the policy brief by Start Strong