Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise again the huge hikes in childcare fees happening in crèches. Management personnel in many crèches are saying that they cannot afford to stay in the core funding programme any more, and are massively hiking their prices as a result. I have spoken to the Taoiseach previously about Chuckleberries crèche in Firhouse, where fees are being increased by an incredible 35%, which many families are simply not able to afford. From the moment the price increases, they will not be able to stay there. One email I received said:

If this childcare funding issue is not addressed, I could be left with no option but to leave the workforce and resort to being a full-time stay-at-home mother.

Another parent notes:

The 35% increase will result in my childcare costs increasing by €4,877 annually from September 2024, whereas the national childcare scheme increase to €2.14 per hour should have provided a €1,600 reduction.

The Government has an ambition to reduce childcare prices by half by 2024, but the reality is that many families are facing the opposite - massive fee increases. Does this not prove the failure of the privatised model? We have free, State-provided primary education. Why do we not have free, State-provided childcare and early years education? More immediately, what will the State and the Department do to intervene in the areas where this is happening to ensure that parents actually have somewhat affordable childcare to go to?

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