Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Paul Murphy. It seems like an eternity since, on 5 February, we saw the biggest national demonstration by childcare workers calling for a national investment in childcare. It seems like a different century almost, and it was three days before the general election. I was at it, like others in this Chamber, and it was an unprecedented demonstration. There must have been about 20,000 people at it. There was an incredible atmosphere. The main issues were in respect of low pay, retention of staff, high cost of crèche places, affordability and insurance costs. Those issues almost created a perfect storm around childcare. One of the main messages from that demonstration was the fragmented nature of childcare in Ireland. Generally the Minister has done a good job in her position but childcare is - I do not like using the word - slightly dysfunctional in Ireland. One thing that needs to come out of the post-pandemic world is that childcare for all workers, front-line and essential workers, should be free and should be funded from the point of central taxation.

I welcome that places will be available for front-line workers. I think a figure of 5,000 was mentioned for the home setting. Why did it take so long for that to happen? Why did it take nine weeks to happen after all the schools were closed in the State? A large number of front-line workers were extremely frustrated about getting access to childcare. Before, sometimes they would give their children to grandparents and so forth, but that was not feasible whatsoever. This shows the dysfunctional aspects of childcare in Ireland. If there is one thing that needs to come out of the post-pandemic situation, it is that childcare needs to be looked at and made free at the point of availability.

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