Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Kyne's suggestion for a debate on childcare. One thing we have recognised as a result of the pandemic is just how hard it is to care for children and how important it is. Childcare workers have been front-line workers throughout the pandemic and have kept the show on the road. It is a matter of wages in the sector and also the lack of continuity of care because when people leave the sector it has an impact on children's well-being. This is a critical aspect.

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said that childcare will be front and centre in his budget proposals. We must deal with the wages in the sector, make the care affordable, and the kind of care children receive must be the very best we can make it. While I will not say it is in the gift of the Minister for Finance, there is certainly a large element at play in terms of that Minister as to whether this can get over the line. A full debate on that issue before the budget would be very welcome.

I acknowledge the fantastic result yesterday in Galway City Council where councillors voted 17:1 in favour of a temporary cycle lane in Salthill. A couple of weeks ago it looked as though that vote would be lost. This goes to the heart of some of the problems we have in our councils across the State. It is not only to do with councillors but it also has to do with executives having a long list for councillors to go through with the reasons something might not work. Funding was one of these reasons. The Minister for Transport, however, is on record as saying that there is no issue around funding. The next excuse will be something else. Another excuse is: "What will we do with cars?". This gets ticked off and then it moves on and on. The same can be said for other projects and not just transport. This must be addressed. The councillors are representative of the people. I was on a cycle trip on Sunday and one two weeks previously.More than 200 people attended last Sunday in the lashing rain. It means the people have spoken. They have spoken through their councillors and through us as their representatives. It means, with funding being made available and legislation being brought forward by the Minister for Transport, it is time for those who are unelected to do what is asked of them and what is being voted for on our councils which is to produce the kind of transport that people want, that is healthier and is better for our climate.