Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My question to the Deputy is why, when in government, his party gave back more than two thirds of the funds for the early child care supplement, that is, of the €480 million that was allocated to child care at the time? Had that money been retained and invested in child care services, it would have gone a long way towards providing free child care but not a cent of it was reinvested in quality supports or in new inspectors either. Clearly, there is an historical legacy of a lack of investment in subsidised child care. During the boom in Ireland, apart from the preschool year, no additional supports were introduced to child care services to ensure that parents were not obliged to pay the amounts they must now pay. It is not that the providers are charging so much, because as Members are aware, many workers in that sector are not earning much money. However, no subsidy is in place because over the years, direct payments were given to parents, as opposed to building up the sector. That said, I wish to move to a position in which that second year is in place and in which quality services are available that can be supported to develop. I agree with the Deputy in that as the economic situation improves the entire question of child care costs and support for that sector should be a priority.

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