Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In recent years there has been a seachange in support for childcare, which is a credit to both the current Minister and his predecessors. We used to have just three hours per day in term time for just two years and now we have 45 hours for up to 14 years and it is year round. It is worth up to €63 per week. That is very important. However, our policy lab has done extensive work and there is still a long distance to go in meeting a situation where we truly value the importance of giving children a good start in their lives. In particular, there are too many gaps in the service. There needs to be a policy shift to inform all Departments, in particular those responsible for local development planning and the national development plan, of the importance of investing in children. We should throw open State facilities that often lie idle from 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. in the afternoon. I ask that we push ahead with reform in this very important area.

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