Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There had been considerable investment in the past decade in respect of child care and a total of 70,000 child care places were created. The Minister adverted to the free child care year. This is a serious issue. Yesterday, we heard the results of a survey, including that 55% of people aged between 20 and 49 years said the cost of child care was an issue and that 25% or one in four people in the country believe they are too poor to start a family.

When one considers the terms of reference for the advisory group the Minister has assembled, it beggars belief that this issue was not given the prominence it deserves. The Government must commit to carrying out a cost analysis of child care-----

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