Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to refer to yesterday's budget announcement, in particular as regards the focus on child care and the investment of €85 million, an excellent first step in supporting children and families with quality and affordable child care. Will the Leader arrange for a debate on child care with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs? Many positive measures were announced yesterday, such as the extension from 38 weeks by 23 weeks of the free preschool year, a €15 million investment in preschools for children with special needs, two weeks of paid paternity leave, €1.3 million for inspections to ensure the quality of our child care and the restoration of the capitation grant to pre-recession levels. There will also be investment of €1.2 million in a fund elsewhere and an increase in child benefit. These important measures will help people to return to work and training and support families. For many, the cost of child care is equivalent to a second mortgage. It is important that we invite the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the House to expand on the question of how he will invest in child care in the next five or six years. This budget is the start of that process and I welcome the measures that the Government has introduced.