Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, the very best in her role. I will focus on two aspects of the programme for Government, namely, children and young people. Government parties and some Independents have celebrated the publication of this document as though it heralds some sort of significant societal shift. However, it is impossible to see this as anything other than more of the same. When it comes to the children and young people of Ireland and in our society, we cannot afford more of the same.

The issue of childcare and early years education warrants an emergency policy consideration. In Kildare, we know of families travelling upwards of 60 minutes each way, and that is if they are lucky enough to have a place in childcare. Yesterday, I spoke with a family who have been on waiting lists for seven different childcare facilities since April 2024. They told me there are 400 children on the waiting list for one of the crèches. It impacts on people's quality of life. The issue of workforce development is of critical importance. The Department cannot bury its head in the sand. I wish Deputy Foley and her colleagues the very best in what is to be a challenging brief in reducing the cost of childcare to €200 per month in the lifetime of this Government. If we take the idea of cheaper childcare as the sole ambition, however, we will fail to address the issues of accessibility, capacity and long-term career prospects for professionals who play an integral role in our society.

When it comes to young people in Irish society, we must do better. I am a very proud youth worker and have been for 15 years. I have spent my entire professional life dedicated to working in youth services, supporting, encouraging and empowering young people to play active and critical roles in their society. In doing so, I learned that Ireland is not a society built to encourage young people's active participation or to encourage them to use their voice, question, make mistakes, have equal opportunity or to achieve. For as long as we consider young people to be a problem for the future, we ignore the reality. They are of intrinsic importance today.

This programme for Government lacks ambition and detail when it comes to young people. I highlight the commitment in the programme for Government to a new youth services action plan. It is wrong and requires amendment. In September 2024, a national strategy for youth work and related services entitled Opportunities for Youth was launched by then Minister Roderic O'Gorman. The Government's commitments should align with that strategy and the established framework set out. I will take the matter up directly with the Minister but I would really appreciate it if the Minister of State were to pass on the message that the commitment in question needs to be amended..

I implore everybody with an iota of responsibility in their briefs for children or young people to come together now and respect the idea of participation, whether it is in childcare, youth work or education. It must be better and it can be better. It is regrettable we do not see that in this programme for Government.

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