Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of our group, I wish to be associated with the comments expressed by the Cathaoirleach and the Leader on the sad passing of Mr. Tom Burke. When I entered the Oireachtas as a Member in 2016 I think he was the first person who snapped a picture of me and my family at the gate. He was a kind and jovial man. Right across the political spectrum, Mr. Burke was much liked and admired.

Time is limited, but I will address an issue that our party members have discussed over many months, as has the Leader and many other Members. I refer to the state of childcare services. The budget is upon us. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, have long lists of what we are all seeking for different parts of the country. It is important that we all make our pitch. Really and truly, though, as has often been said in this House recently, we have let our system of childcare fall apart. That is the only word that I can use to describe the situation. We must quickly ensure that childcare workers are paid a decent and proper wage. It is a priority. It is a responsible job that must be undertaken when we leave our children in the care of others day after day. We rely on those people, many of whom do a very good job, to look after those children. In situations like that, we must ensure that people are properly paid and that the system is properly funded.

We all know that the finances are tight from time to time. It is hard for Governments to have money to allocate to every cause. I feel strongly about this issue, however, and I am sure that the Leader will inform the relevant Ministers of the need in this area. I hope, therefore, that the budget will ensure, once and for all, that all our childcare workers are paid a proper wage and that more people will be attracted to the job. No childcare workers will be left if we continue in the way we are going now. That is a fact. This is the situation in every part of the country. I have often met many people in the Roscommon and Galway region who have told me about the desperate plight of the childcare system. It is important, therefore, that we all focus on childcare. It is important that it is recognised in this budget that childcare workers do a meaningful and important job. It is crucial for us to pay those people properly and to attract people into the system. People will completely fall away from it if we do not look after them.