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

The first point is about gender equality. I saw the details of the report mentioned by the Deputy and they need examination. There were quite a number of areas where it was highlighted how well Ireland is doing. In terms of child care, the Government is investing more than has ever been invested in child care. The Deputy quite rightly states that for women combining work and family life, we need access to high-quality, affordable and accessible child care, and that is what the Government is committed to doing. We have introduced the second free preschool year and we have also dealt with the very important issue of young children in preschool who need access to special needs services. For the first time, the Government has ensured those children will have access to special needs supports and assessment, which is very important. Primarily, this is about increasing the number of affordable places, and that is happening with the second free preschool year. There are more children than ever - approximately 120,000 - availing of those two free preschool years. That will be rolled out in September. There is also the matter of after-school places and the Minister, Deputy Zappone, has been doing much work in ensuring more child care is available. That will help reduce the gap that the Deputy mentions.

I refer the Deputy to another survey on income and living conditions, which indicates income inequality decreased last year. That has been going absolutely in the right direction as a result of the decisions taken in recent budgets. It is a fact that income inequality has been decreasing and one would have to go back to 2009 to see that difference.

See this speech in context