Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend an Teachta Clare Kerrane on bringing forward this policy and Kathleen Funchion for the work she has done in this area. Access to affordable childcare is a game-changer. I hope the Minister knows that. He certainly has not delivered but an Teachta Kerrane has the plan and the ideas - €10 per day per child. That is exactly what parents need. They need certainty and they need to know their childcare is going to be affordable. My daughter was born when I was 21. I was faced with a very stark choice, namely I could stay at home, mind her and drop out of college because we could certainly could not have afforded the childcare. However, because I was able to access affordable subsidised childcare, I was able to work and complete my degree and we were able to settle and build our wee family. It was essential. My life would be so different if we had not had access to affordable childcare. It is a necessity for families.

I saw the Minister's amendment. I do not know if parents will thank him for throwing bouquets at himself but he is certainly doing an awful lot of that with his words. Let us look at the facts. The facts are that childcare is still unaffordable and I sincerely hope that the Minister has the humility to acknowledge that in his script. Childcare is still unaffordable for parents and our early years educators are not paid enough. There are many elements to the Sinn Féin fully costed plan but for those two, costs must come down. Sinn Féin has the plan and will deliver - €10 per day per child. It is a game-changer. If the Minister talks to parents, they will tell him that it is not just what they want, it is what they need. It gives them certainty. It means that they can plan. For our early years educators, at 65 cent per hour, I think they got the message from the Minister about how much their education and contribution are valued. Not only have we provided for a decent increase - €1.50 per hour - we have contingency for further increases. I urge the Minister to withdraw his shameful amendment and support our fully costed plan.

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