Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)

I commend my colleague, Deputy Claire Kerrane, on the motion this evening and on all the work she has done inasmuch as has been outlined. We were the only party that went to the electorate with a credible, well-thought-out, well-constructed plan to deliver affordable public childcare. At the last election, both of the parties of Government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael - I am not sure what the opinions of Deputy Lowry and his crew are - could not walk more than 2 m without talking about affordable childcare. However, it turns out that that was just another useless, meaningless soundbite from them because absolutely nothing has been done in this regard. In fact, as I understand it, they want to bring us backwards.

I represent one of the youngest constituencies in the State, so the issue of the shortage of childcare places is felt very acutely by my constituents. It is a very real issue. There is an acute shortage of places for childcare within my constituency. It is forcing parents, although let us be frank, mostly women, to have to curtail their participation in the workforce. What does that mean? It means people will have trouble if trying to get a mortgage, particularly with the current crowd in government who seem intent on pushing up the cost of housing beyond all believable figures. It means that for many families the juggle is not just difficult; it is becoming impossible.

Access to affordable childcare is a game changer. When I was in college, I was very fortunate to be able to access subsidised childcare. It meant making an application to the hardship fund in UCD to get it, but I did that and I accessed affordable childcare. Since I could access affordable childcare my husband was able to work full time and I was able to work part time and I was able to study. If I had not been able to access that affordable childcare, I would not have been able to go to college and would not have had the opportunities and chances I have had since. I look around my constituency and I see women who are being denied those very same opportunities because they cannot access affordable childcare.

There are 43 organisations in the alliance for public childcare. The Minister should meet with them and hear what they have to say and act on their asks.

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