Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Hardly a Deputy here does not agree that the fact we do not have affordable child care is a massive problem in Ireland. It is a problem for the child and the economy. It has a big impact on poverty levels. We have the fastest rising child poverty rate in Europe. It is significant that only 42% of single mothers in Ireland are in the workplace, because the others cannot afford to work. A very good friend of mine, Haxhi, and his partner, Eugenie, have to move to Germany because she wants to study and he has to work. They can get their child minded there for nothing. It makes such a difference when good child care is available.

I know it is not cheap and it would cost the State a lot to do it right and put a really good system in place, but a serious priority for the Government should be to start to make inroads into providing this absolutely vital service. It would make such a difference to the child's start in life and a big difference to dealing with the crazy level of rising child poverty. It is a no-brainer from the point of view of investment. As Deputy Daly stated, €1 spent on a child under three saves the State €8 before the child is an adult. It will be very good for the economy when we eventually see the good sense in investing from the start.

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