Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)

With the young population that we have, it is important we support childcare services. I was in this House when a previous Government, in 2009 to 2010, brought in the early childhood care and education programme, ECCE. We see the advancement of that in terms of childcare right the way across the country since then. While it is fair to make constructive criticisms, it is also fair, by way of balance, to see where we have come from and where we are now. If you look at budget 2026, €1.48 billion was allocated for early learning and childcare.

That is an increase of 9% on the previous year. Capital funding is rising as well, with 2,300 additional childcare places. The national childcare scheme supports 286,000 children. If we look at the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme nearly 98% of children are now participating in a scheme that did not exist 14 or 15 years ago.

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