Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I absolutely accept that parents are struggling with the cost of childcare, and that is why my commitment is to ensure the additional State investment in childcare is tied to conditions, including reductions in fees. The Deputy spoke about the lack of regulation. She is correct about fees but it is important to state the quality of childcare is significantly regulated by Tusla. The system is strongly regulated to monitor quality and how children are being treated.

Workers' payments are a key priority for my Department. The Deputy will know that we recently started a joint labour committee process, which will be important in providing the 30,000 people in the sector, almost all of whom are women, with a living wage.

I absolutely accept that there is patchwork provision but key to deciding how we will make advancements in the sector is the research my Department is undertaking. It will be published later this year and guide future investment and regulatory decisions that the Government will make.

See this speech in context