Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A petition has been signed by some 25,000 people, both men and women, who are seeking an extension to the maternity benefit and the leave associated with it. I urge the Taoiseach to consider this and deliver on it very quickly. It is just plain common sense. One should think about what it is like to bring home a newborn in these circumstances, isolated from family and with all the concerns that emerge in that scenario. There is concern over whether very young children, babies, will be able to get childcare places. I wish to press the Taoiseach on this. I ask him to make progress on it. I have made the point to him that his childcare plan is not a proper one, and I am disappointed that, on reflection, he cannot see that as an obvious fact.

On special provision, the Taoiseach should bear in mind that weeks ago there was to be a scheme involving special needs assistants and supports for the children involved and their families, but it came to nothing. I appeal to the Taoiseach not to disappoint the families and children again. They are in dire straits. They need a scheme that they can really access and one that delivers the real supports they desperately need. I hope the scheme announced tomorrow will answer the concerns I have raised and many others.

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