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

I want to raise the issue of early years education and childcare. We know urgent reforms are needed. We still have fees that are too high, a lack of availability of places, and staff and workers who are low-paid. The Taoiseach's comments at the weekend appeared to undermine the Government's commitment to a reduction in costs and showed a complete lack of understanding of the severity of this issue and how serious it is for so many parents. Is the Government committed to a significant reduction in costs? Can we see at last a publicly funded universal and affordable childcare and early years scheme? It is something that Labour Women and myself have consistently campaigned for. The State provides universal public education to all children from junior infants to sixth year, but inexplicably parents are left struggling in preschool years. We find so many parents who simply cannot access affordable childcare and early years places for their children. This burden is felt predominantly by women. It is keeping women out of the workforce in some cases, so it is time for the Government to commit to introducing significant reforms in childcare.

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