Beverley Flynn (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

The cost of providing these preschool places will be €170 million. We are delighted that, despite comment by the Opposition that these places would never be made available, 98,000 places have been made available. This scheme which provides direct support to families and direct benefit to children is, I believe, headed for great success. My message, as a mother of young children - I am conscious of this having met with many people with young children - is that child benefit is important to all families. Families need it and are dependant on it now more than ever given the times in which we live. I ask the Minister to bear this in mind and to be as fair and equitable as possible in next week's budget.

See this speech in context