Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)

I support the Sinn Féin motion on childcare. There is a serious crisis of childcare in this country that has been ongoing for years, yet the Government continuously failed to address it. Parents not only struggle to afford childcare, but also to access it. Accessing childcare is an enormous challenge facing many families across the country but particularly in Donegal. A recent survey by Early Childhood Ireland has revealed shocking figures. In Donegal alone, there are 1,345 children under the age of four on childcare waiting lists for only 89 places. That leaves 1,200 children in Donegal who do not have a crèche place. That includes 362 children under the age of one waiting on lists, with just three places available to them; 468 children between the ages of one and two waiting on lists for just seven places available; and 515 children aged between two and three on waiting lists with just 79 places available. It should not be the case that hundreds of families are fighting for a handful of places.

Recruitment and retention of staff continues to be the main issue in Donegal. It makes sense to bring early years and school-age care graduates into the public pay system. I cannot understand why this has not been properly considered and implemented. The Government needs to start taking proactive steps to address the shortage of early years educators, who have been underpaid and undervalued for far too long. We need to start paying and treating our early years educators far better.

We also need to address the extortionate fees parents are expected to pay. It is unacceptable that parents are expected to pay the equivalent of a mortgage each month for childcare. During the election, the Government very loudly promised to reduce childcare fees to €200 per month per child. Five months later, there has not been a peep about this issue. Parents are still paying thousands a month on childcare costs. It is yet another broken election promise.

We know that this is a crisis that particularly affects women. As a result, they are not able to participate fully in society and are often forced to leave the workforce due to lack of available childcare places. Inequality has to end. We need a publicly funded, publicly provided, universal, affordable and accessible childcare system. This is the reason I will be supporting the motion.

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