Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To be clear, in our alternative budget last year, we outlined mechanisms that would improve the pay and conditions of people working in the childcare sector and reduce childcare costs for families and workers. None of those things has happened. Many would argue that whatever was in the Government's budget amounted to a stunt. Childcare costs have not come down and the pay and conditions of workers in the sector have not improved.

I asked a specific question on what will happen this September. How many childcare facilities will be operating under the new scheme and what will be the real impact on parents of children attending those facilities?

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