Government talks: Parties consider local authority role in childcare services
Childcare services could partner with local authority facilities under a plan being considered in the government formation talks.
Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party have also discussed increasing paid maternity benefit from 26 weeks up to 34 weeks and paid paternity benefit from two to four weeks, changes favoured by Fianna Fáil.
Previous Green Party proposals to cap private childcare facilities, as envisaged in its election manifesto, were not discussed. One source compared this to trying to cap rents and noted that 74% of childcare providers are private.
Multiple sources have confirmed that the role of childcare for local authorities in a pilot project is being considered. This could be a radical measure, if and when a final programme for government deal is agreed.
It is understood that Fine Gael also wants to extend parental leave, for either partner, in line with an EU directive which oversees work-life balance.
It is also understood that the Greens are keen to see more of a state role in childminding and more encouragement of foster services.
Sources from Fine Gael and Fianna Fail said the childcare talks had gone well and finished by early Wednesday afternoon.
Key negotiations in transport have been adjourned until today.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil insists it will attempt to postpone the raising of the pension age, seeing it as a fundamental promise made to its voters.
Sources within the party say it would be "an important win" for its negotiators in the talks. They say that doing so would fulfil the party's election pledge and would signal a change in approach from the government.
Sources say they are increasingly hopeful a deal will be struck by all three sides, but stress there is "a lot of work to be done".
There have been calls on the parties negotiating the programme for government to clarify if pre-election pledges not to increase the pension age to 67 from next year will be honoured.
This comes amid suggestions that delaying the raising of the pension age from January next could be difficult to achieve given the changed economic circumstances. This was a key promise by some parties, particularly Fianna Fáil, before the February general election.
The issue may be discussed in further talks on Thursday between the Green Party, Fianna Fáil, and Fine Gael.
During the election, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party pledged to postpone plans to change the pension age from 66 to 67.
Fine Gael argued that the age would increase. However, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there would be a transition payment paid to people who retired before they turned 67. Sinn Féin promised to bring the pension age back to 65.
