Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

This Government will be judged by its delivery of critical infrastructure, that is, infrastructure needed for social and economic reasons. In that regard, we have not seen significant public investment in childcare infrastructure in our local communities. For reference, €45 million was ring-fenced to expand childcare capacity in the NDP over the past two years, versus €1.4 billion in the education capital budget for 2025 alone. We have planning guidelines that theoretically link new homes to the delivery of private childcare places but it is not working effectively enough. I understand that critical infrastructure, with a capital "C" and capital "I", has mainly referred to nation-building infrastructure for energy, housing, transport, water and climate resilience but the underinvestment we have seen in childcare and the over-reliance on private providers to ensure every community and family has access means childcare infrastructure is now critical. Early learning and childcare are nation building.

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