Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that it is time to move beyond announcements and deliver meaningful action on the cost of childcare.

Speaking in the Dáil this week, Teachta Crowe said:

“Childcare is no longer simply a family issue. It is one of the biggest social and economic challenges facing this State.

“Parents are paying more than €800 a month in many parts of the country, but in Dublin they would be lucky to get change from €1,000 a month. Even then, there are thousands who still cannot secure a childcare place. That is the impossible situation for many families who are trying to work, study and provide the best start in life for their children.

“I constantly hear from people I am talking to that they cannot afford to have a child, particularly those who have a mortgage. They are putting off having a child until later in life. The figures even suggest that is the pattern. People just cannot afford it, and it is an impossible situation for many families.

“Families have heard promise after promise from the Government. They were promised childcare provision at €200 a month but there is still no roadmap. There is certainly no timeframe to get even close to that place. The core funding, we heard earlier on, must be reviewed so that providers are supported rather than buried in paperwork and bureaucracy. Every week, I get emails from parents where a childcare provider has pulled out of core funding, and the costs of that family have skyrocketed.

“The Government has made a mess of core funding to the point where it is not viable. Simply saying that childcare must be made cheaper is not enough. There must be investment in capacity, fair play and, above all, long-term planning. The Government hates to consider any project that will last longer than an election cycle because, God forbid, it will not get the credit.

“Sinn Féin’s motion sets out practical, achievable measures that will make a real difference for children, parents and childcare professionals. It is time to move beyond announcements and deliver meaningful action.”