Lisa McDonald (Fianna Fail)

I agree with him. If we are to obtain greater support for the implementation of a more progressive programme, not only should we encourage the electorate to elect more women, but we should also promote the fact that men share the economic cost of child care. Paternity leave is essential and we must also consider other radical measures including tax breaks for middle and high earning income brackets to allow such parents to provide child care in the home or in other private facilities. Such measures would also free up publicly-funded child care places for those on lower incomes.Creativity is required when dealing with this issue.

There must be progress towards universal early education for three to four year-olds, as advocated by Senator Mary White. Community child care must be the cornerstone of our policy. I urge the Minister of State to make the changes necessary to make this scheme workable and to continue the wonderful work that has been done over the past seven years. I congratulate the Minister of State and the Government for providing the hard cash for this scheme and a few hard thoughts are needed now and perhaps a few hard changes. The budget is in place so we must push forward and there is no need for any suspension. We must ensure a poverty trap is not created as a result of the changes to the scheme. This programme is an opportunity to solve the problems rather than to subsidise them.