Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire chun an tSeanaid. Tá mé an-bhuíoch di as a bheith anseo anocht. I am honoured to speak today on a matter that touches the heart of every community in Ireland, which is early learning and childcare. Fianna Fáil welcomes this debate and our commitment is clear. It is to make Ireland a great place to raise a family, where every child is given an equal start in life and equal opportunities throughout their journey. We all know the early years of a child's life are the most formative. They shape not only the child's future but the future of our society. This is why investing in early learning and childcare is not just a policy decision, it is a moral imperative.

Since 2020 we have doubled State investment in childcare. This is not only a statistic, it is a transformation. Families now pay 36% less for early learning and childcare than they did in 2022. This is real relief for parents and real support for providers. It means more children can access quality care and more parents can return to work or education with peace of mind, if they wish to do so. In budget 2026 we have allocated €1.48 billion to the sector. This funding will support an additional 35,000 children under the national childcare scheme, bringing the total to more than 286,000. This is a 14% increase. This is proof of our commitment to access, affordability and quality.

We know that investment alone is not enough. Pay and conditions in the sector have long been a challenge. This is why we warmly welcome the adoption of the new employment regulation orders. These will raise minimum hourly wages for early years educators and school age childcare practitioners, some by as much as €2 per hour. Approximately 67% of staff will see their wages increase. This is not only about fairness, it is about recognising the vital role these professionals play in shaping our children's futures.

Let me pause here to acknowledge the educators, the people who every morning greet our children, nurture their curiosity and help them to grow socially and emotionally. They are not just workers, they are builders of our futures and they deserve to be valued, respected and fairly compensated.

We are also expanding support for children with disabilities through the award-winning access and inclusion model, AIM. In 2026 up to 9,000 children will benefit, with AIM now extending beyond the ECCE hours. This will ensure that every child, regardless of ability, can participate meaningfully in early education. Inclusion is not luxury; it is a necessity. Our equal start programme is another pillar of progress. It targets disadvantage with universal and tailored supports, including nutrition programmes, language development and inclusion training. In 2026 the number of priority settings receiving targeted supports will rise to 820. This means more Traveller and Roma children, more children with language delays and more families facing hardship will be supported in a meaningful way.

We are not stopping there. The Government is developing a forward planning and delivery unit to explore public provision alongside private and community providers. With €36 million in capital funding we will begin acquiring buildings for State-led childcare, which is an historic step forward. This will allow us to respond to gaps in provision and ensure that no child is left behind due to geography or affordability. We remain focused on affordability. Our goal is to reduce fees to €200 per month. Budget 2026 introduces new maximum fee caps to help families facing the highest costs. This is a key step forward towards the target. For many families this could mean the difference between struggling and thriving. We also continue to support the early childhood care and education programme, which benefits more than 105,000 children annually. Uptake rates exceed 96% and data shows that more than 40% of families would not have been able to send their child to a preschool without it. This is the power of public investment.

While challenges do remain, the pathway is clear. We are building a system that is affordable, high quality and accessible. We are investing in our children. We are supporting our educators and we are strengthening our communities. Let us continue this journey together with ambition, compassion and determination. When we invest in our children, we invest in the future of Ireland.