Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I join colleagues in welcoming the deferral of tomorrow's proposed strike. Following a bleak week, flood waters are receding just as the prospect of a strike has receded but we are still facing into the appalling vista of the budget next week. I would like a debate on a number of public services that are likely to be cut in the budget, especially those relating to early childhood care and education. We are opposed to the expected cut in child benefit. Along with a number of other Members, I was present at the launch of Start Strong, which was formerly the Irish Childcare Policy Network. It put forward persuasive policy papers on the need for investment in early childhood care and education. The Government is not willing to make such investment and we need a debate on how best to target funding in that area, just as we need to ensure child benefit is not cut.

I also seek a debate on the third level sector which is likely to face even more cutbacks. Students' unions, particularly those in the Dublin Institute of Technology and Trinity College Dublin, have highlighted the severe effect of registration charges and the repeated increases in this charge. Such charges are fees in all but name. Other colleagues, notably Senator Healy Eames, have raised the issue many times. The disimprovement in facilities for students at the same time as the registration charge is increasing means we need a proper debate. Trinity College students have raised the way in which the registration charge is being spent.