Natasha Newsome Drennan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As this is also my first time speaking in the Chamber, I would like to thank the people of Carlow and Kilkenny for putting their faith in me. I will leave no stone unturned. To my family, especially my parents and husband, and to my friends and activists, I am extremely grateful. Thank you.

Across Carlow and Kilkenny, parents are struggling to find adequate childcare places. The sudden announcement of the closure of a school servicing Castlecomer has left parents without vital childcare. In Kilkenny city, another provider has announced it is ending its after-school services due to staffing issues. Parents are left in the difficult position of scrambling for limited alternatives. The programme for Government has offered mere lip service to childcare. Will the Taoiseach’s Department commit to a concrete plan that will include transitioning to a public funding model? Parents cannot endure another year of stopgap solutions. We need to see real plans for the sector put into action. When will the Government prioritise building capacity in the sector, ensuring professionals, operators and families receive the support they deserve?

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