Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Sinn Féin spokesperson on children and youth affairs, I could not let this moment go without saying that the budget is a total missed opportunity where childcare is concerned. Absolutely nothing has been done for struggling providers, whose challenges were shown in stark relief by Covid-19. Nothing has been done for the parents paying crazy fees, an issue that mainly affects women, who are pushed out of the workforce when childcare becomes too expensive. Moreover, nothing has been done for those working in the sector, who have studied and hold degree-level qualifications. Many are on the minimum wage or have to sign on for social welfare during the summer. We have spoken about this time and again in committee hearings and in this Chamber. Workers in this sector took to the streets in anger on 5 February this year. This is not a sector that would normally take that type of action, but the people involved are at their wits' end.

I have heard talk of a review, but I genuinely believe that soon there will not be a sector on which to carry it out. The crisis is happening now and we need to see action now. There is no time for more reviews. There have been lots of reviews and consultations over the years. I am a massive fan of consultation and I believe it is extremely important, but we know what needs to be done for the early years sector. The sector needs investment, the workers need a decent wage and parents, particularly women, need to be able to afford childcare. There is no point in talking about a recovery if childcare is not one of its key elements. This budget is a total slap in the face for this sector.

I also want to talk about housing and those who are struggling with rent. So many families, young people and young couples are trying to come up with rent money every month and are barely getting by. They have absolutely no opportunity to save for a mortgage. There is nothing in this budget to help them. One of the only things we see is a carbon tax. There will be an increase in the cost of the fuel people need to heat their homes and the petrol they need to drive to work. There are no alternatives, particularly in rural Ireland. People must have cars to get to work. Now people will be penalised for going to work and heating their homes, which will put more and more people into fuel poverty. They will have to choose between paying their rent or mortgage or heating their houses.

In the 40 seconds I have left I also want to mention pensioners, who have not seen an increase in several years. Not every pensioner is entitled to the fuel allowance or the living alone allowance. In fact, many are not entitled to those payments. They will be particularly affected by the increase in the price of fuel. This group has been forgotten about. It is ironic that our children in the early years sector and our elderly, two of the most vulnerable groups in our society, have been forgotten in this budget. It does not say very much for this Government or its budget.

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