It is over a year since the Government announced in budget 2017 its intention to pursue an affordable child care scheme. Many parents across Ireland have since seen their child care costs increase well above any subsidy provided by the State. As the Taoiseach knows, the universal subsidy is worth about €80 per month. I know of one example where parents faced an increase of €100 in their bill last August and were told that it would go up by a further €100 a month from January.

This is in response to the need for the retention of trained staff. There is no effort to cap costs for parents or subsidise the crèche costs of trained staff. The heads of the Bill and its general scheme were published in January 2017 and we have yet to see any substantial progress on the legislation. When will the legislation be advanced? Does the Taoiseach accept that child care costs have risen well above any subsidy now provided by the State?

The Minister, Deputy Zappone, received permission from the Cabinet yesterday to publish the Bill and she will do so at her discretion in the coming days. There has certainly been an increase in child care costs and I know the enormous cost of child care for many young couples, which can be as much as the rent or mortgage, if not more. I would have to check the statistics to verify if the increase has been greater than the subsidy provided.

There is no doubt about it.

I am told it is not the case but I am sure it is for some people. It is not the case in general, I believe, but I would have to check the statistics to be sure of it.