Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Through the Chair, the context is very important because there is a huge difference between €5 billion or €6 billion and €17 billion of expenditure, which is what the Social Democrats are proposing. The credibility of that needs examination. I accept that Deputy Whitmore's party is proposing tax hikes of €1 billion to pay for this, and a new tax rate of 43%. That is fair enough. Her party is saying it wants to tax much more to create revenue. What we are saying is that we want to prioritise childcare, which we have done so far in the last two budgets. We have taken a step-by-step approach, with a very significant improvement in terms of reducing fees. I am not going to pre-empt the budget negotiations between the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. The bilateral meetings are under way. There is an overall budgetary framework, and the reason I mention that is because it is relevant in terms of the fact that all of the Departments have to be within a particular ceiling of expenditure. We believe that is sustainable and we also want to protect and build for the future of this country in terms of our approach to sustainable funding and finances.

Our commitment to progress in childcare stays but I am not getting into specifics today a week ahead of the budget. I think the Minister is still engaging with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on this and on other issues. We are conscious also that some services have come forward in respect of their perception of the application of the schemes that were introduced last year. The Minister is open to engaging and discussing with people, but by and large it is important to point out that the number of services that have closed so far in 2023 is lower than the numbers that closed in 2021 and 2022. I think we have made substantial progress. It is our commitment to continue to add to that progress and this budget should reflect that.

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