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

This country will have to deal with the issue of the accessibility and affordability of child care in the coming years. The precise mechanism and financial support to be provided will have to be examined. Research shows the provision of universal child care services, as opposed to using the tax system, is preferable if funding is available. However, there will be detailed budgetary discussions in the coming months on this and a range of other issues. I am not in a position to indicate the precise outcome of these discussions.

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