Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Neville for raising this matter. He is right that it is a major priority for us in government. In the programme for Government we have outlined 21 specific commitments on childcare. My constituency in Wicklow it is not too dissimilar to Deputy Neville's constituency in Kildare in terms of a very fast-growing population of people. They are pleased to see the reduction we have made in childcare fees but they want a place. The reduction in the fees only matters if they can get a place. We do need to look at what more we can do. Each of the three areas referenced by Deputy Neville are areas to which the Minister is giving consideration. The Minister for Education and Youth and I discussed at the most recent Cabinet committee how we can use education campuses more broadly in terms of utilising State buildings and State land, and what we can do on the guidelines to make it easier when housing estates are built. Many housing estates are built with a crèche or childcare facility but many childcare providers find the upfront costs they need to pay far too high. We are very clear in the programme for Government that there are parts of the country where we need to have State-backed public provision. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is working on an action plan on childcare, which I expect to be published in the coming months.

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