Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In a previous life, I worked in the UK for ten years as a child care campaigner turned politician and, therefore, the Minister and I may share common ground. The budget breakthrough in 2017 was phenomenal and only somebody who has worked in the sector and who has seen what happens behind the scenes could judge that. I commend the breakthrough because, as Senator Higgins said, child care is part of the infrastructure of a modern Ireland for children. In 2002, when I was living in England, I was part of an OECD team that visited Ireland and what we found was shocking in terms of how far behind Ireland was in respect of child care. It is great that in 2016 and 2017 we are finally catching up.

The Minister has inherited a messy, complicated and expensive child care system in which the positive changes she makes could have unintended consequences, as has been outlined. I offer the support and expertise of the Civil Engagement group to wade through that messy and complicated system and for us to be her critical friends as the child care system that is needed is developed. The only measure of success will be a reduction in child poverty rates. The current rates are unacceptable and they keep going in the wrong direction. Any activity in child care provision should have a positive effect on child poverty by reducing it. It should also close the 14% gender gap in order that we end up with an infrastructure that supports women and children to succeed in Ireland. I wish the Minister every success and I wish her luck with the messiness. I am sure she will bear with it.