Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this topic. From an Opposition point of view, it must be hard to criticise when one considers the fabulous work the Minister has done in her new role in a dedicated Department for children. It is quite a revelation and a major change. My wife and I were lucky enough to use the services of child care while trying to keep many jobs going at the same time. We were very fortunate to come across a crèche called Serendipity in Mallow which I must compliment as it is doing fabulous work like many others across the country.

The discussion is about low-income families but this is a blinkered focus because there are many middle-income people who find themselves very pressed for money due to legacy debt and other issues. In the famous words of the Minister for Finance, "what have you against these children?" because there are families who on outward appearances seem as if money is flathúileach but, unfortunately, it is not. I welcome the review of the existing targeted child care system scheme. The amount of money the Government is putting into the early years programme is significant. The challenges for families today are huge. We have all done it. Any delay or problem means that someone has to sacrifice getting to work on time. Perhaps we should be looking at allowing people in the public service to take leave of absence in the early years and come back because people are afraid that if they step out, they may not get their job back. We need to look at ways of accommodating parents who would like some time off, particularly in the early years, to provide care at home.

This is a very important issue that affects every family. I do not think people realise the importance of it until they are in that situation juggling time and kids. It is such a hard thing to do. When one gets through it, one wonders how one did it but people struggle through. I welcome the debate and thank the Minister for her work to date on this matter.

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