Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to support the Order of Business. Today we are debating further legislation in our battle against Covid-19. It shows the extraordinary lengths this House and Dáil Éireann can go to, to work together for the betterment of our people, and, when times are tough and challenging, the speed with which we can make drastic and sweeping changes that are in the interest of the public good.

In that context I wish to raise the childcare issue and a need to re-evaluate. Many people returning to work as we reopen our economy still cannot get access to adequate childcare. Some have been offered part-time childcare or childcare for one or two days a week even though they are expected to go back to work five days per week.Sometimes we have thought that things could not be possible. For example, working from home was thought, by many companies, to be almost impossible, until it was required and needed in the context of Covid-19. We need to re-evaluate how we care for children in this State in the context of Covid-19. In the past weeks we have seen the campaign to extend maternity leave for longer than the six-month period. Many mothers and fathers are feeling under pressure because they have nowhere to put their children as there is no childcare. Would it not be better if there was an option for parents to stay at home? Would it not be better if, for that first year of the child's life, the option was there for mum or dad to be at home with their child? When we consider the financial pressure that will be on the State to fund childcare, which we know we have to do, and when we think of this cost, should there not also be the option to fund childcare in the home? In the context of all of the drastic and sweeping changes we see happening in the country, we need to re-evaluate how we do things and give those options. In the long term it will prove to be less expensive for the Exchequer. It would be more beneficial to families and it would also take the pressure off.

It is unsatisfactory that we have a situation where people are being told that we have to reopen the economy and they must get back to work, which of course we must do, but childcare is not available. This issue is still rumbling on. It has not been sorted and it needs to be sorted. It cannot just be a secondary consideration. It has to be a priority for our country and for this House. It would be prudent to consider how we might facilitate small children remaining in the home if possible, and also have the option of going into childcare. It should be both of those. There is a crèche available for the Oireachtas that requires a parent to use it five days or none. This is not conducive to Members who may not be here five days per week. We need to be a bit more flexible in how we do things. There has been extra pressure. Mums and dads had to take to the gates of Leinster House to have their voices heard because many mothers and fathers did not feel they had support in the last six months and especially for those crucial first few months. It brings to the fore the crucial impact on families when the pressure is there to return to work without proper supports to do so.