Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate what the Deputy said and that there are concerns about how the summer programme will work. As she said, these concerns exist before the announcement has been made. I anticipate and hope that should the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, and the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, get approval for the summer programme tomorrow, they will be able to answer questions and allay any concerns that people have tomorrow. In fairness to them, they cannot do that until they have Government or Cabinet approval for the summer programme.

On childcare, we have a good plan in place. It has been largely, although not universally, well received and it will facilitate the reopening of childcare centres for the months of July and August. There is a reopening grant, there are capital grants to carry out works to childcare centres, and there is also a wage subsidy, with the Government paying roughly 70% of the wages in the sector during that period. I agree that a longer-term plan will be needed to apply from September onwards, but it is our view that, at least as of now, that should be a matter for the new Government, and there have been discussions about childcare among the parties willing to form a Government. The Deputy's party has given up on any attempt to form a Government and it will not have a say or a role in that. The parties forming a Government will have a say and will, of course, consult the sector, as they should.

In respect of maternity leave and maternity benefit, we are happy to consider any proposals being made. In the Deputy's initial contribution, she mentioned maternity benefit and later she mentioned maternity leave, but they are not the same. Paternity benefit and paternity leave, as well as parental benefit and parental leave, will also have to come into the mix because sometimes, although not commonly, the man is the main carer in a one-parent family.

If the Deputy has proposals that are comprehensive, however, we would be very happy to examine them.

See this speech in context