Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As many points have been made, there is no point in recycling them. I welcome this debate. Both last night and tonight, it has been a good one. Despite the discussion in the past two years or so of the great pensions issue facing this generation, this is an even greater issue. To use that awful phrase, it will not go away. We have the largest young population and the highest birth rate of all EU countries. We cannot hide from this fact and must deal with it.

Progress and improvements have been made in the past ten years. People like the Minister and I can continue progressing it during the next decade. Deputy McHugh referred to the 1970s when child care was non-existent. We can advance the essential elements. For example, reference was made to the early years strategy. That can be developed. It is good that the sector will be reviewed, as we can learn from what has happened in the past ten years in particular. We can use other models. We are coming from quite a bit behind. Friends or relations living in northern Europe will explain that those countries have been doing this sort of work since the end of the Second World War. The sector is so advanced there. We are not completely out of the picture and have made improvements, but all sides recognise that we still have a distance to go.

Deputy Troy made a point about the high birth rate. Whatever happens in the future, I agree that there should be no barriers. If child care is to be available to everyone, it must also be available to those on the average wage. Many of us know families in those circumstances. If one or both parents are lucky enough to have jobs, it can still be quite a burden, which several Deputies pointed out last night and tonight. This factor must form part of our focus. Child care should be available for people with little disposable income, not just those with the wherewithal to pay any amount for child care. We should not miss this opportunity, as there is a barrier. How costly child care is must be acknowledged. There are different reasons for that, but I will not go into them now.

I will finish before the Ceann Comhairle asks me to.

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