Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I wish to raise the issue of child care, which will become more relevant in the context of the forthcoming mini budget. The Government will have to take child care into consideration when it raises taxes. We should be honest and recognise that tax increases will have to be made. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on child care with the Minister for Health and Children.

Everybody we know who works in the private sector has experienced wage cuts and the cost of rented accommodation has fallen. However, commercial rents are slow to decrease. We must push for reductions in the cost of child care, which currently consumes almost one third of parents' salaries. Across the Border in Northern Ireland, child care costs half as much as here. In the context of the mini budget and taxation, child care is one of the main issues we must address. Approximately 1.8 million people remain at work and we want to keep them in employment.