Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Labour Party reiterates its support for the call for more time on Report Stage to debate the Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill. It would be sensible to adjourn the debate rather than to conclude the debate after two hours today, and I note the Taoiseach's comments that the whips should co-ordinate on that matter. A substantial number of amendments have been tabled and concerns have been raised about flaws in the Bill, therefore, it would be sensible to adjourn the debate and give it a little more time next week. That is the wish of all of us in opposition.

I raise the issue of increasing concerns among parents and teachers in recent weeks. They have been expressing their concern about severe staff shortages in schools, which was the subject of an earlier debate today. I am also increasingly hearing of frustration from parents of younger children, children of preschool age, who cannot access a place for their child in early years education and care in my constituency and others around the country. I have raised this previously and thank the Taoiseach for his engagement on specific issues about individual crèche closures, but this is part of a broader, systematic problem with childcare and early years education in this country. We need urgent State intervention to address this problem. What is lacking is a real acknowledgement at the centre of Government of the lack of provision of childcare services for children and parents who rely on childcare providers and, indeed, a lack of supports for providers that are closing. I acknowledge incremental steps have been taken. In particular, we in the Labour Party have welcomed the establishment of the employment regulation order for early years workers and professionals. I also acknowledge the Big Start campaign and SIPTU's input into that. Notwithstanding improvements in pay for professionals, there is still a problematic and flawed system for parents. They are now being told to reserve their child's place when at the very early stages of pregnancy, before the child is even born, and even then they cannot be sure of getting a place at a childcare facility.

Tonight, Labour Senators will table a motion in the Seanad to address the crisis in Ireland's childcare system and to call for a change in policy to ensure we no longer have the postcode lottery that so often determines the availability of places and their affordability. High, exorbitant and rising fees are a huge issue for many parents. Several parents have come to me to say they simply cannot afford a childcare place even where there is one available. Let us remember Ireland has the highest proportion of private providers of childcare in the OECD and many smaller providers are being squeezed on costs. We need a universal, publicly-funded childcare system in Ireland and we in the Labour Party have been calling for that consistently. Will the Taoiseach commit to the rolling out of such a scheme and will he commit to reduce the cost of childcare as part of that to a cap of €200 per month per child, as we have sought?

See this speech in context