Childcare action plan delay
Deputy Farrelly said the promised childcare action plan had not appeared and urged a time-limited special Oireachtas committee on childcare and early years. The Minister pointed to existing investment and budget increases, but the Deputy pressed repeatedly for an answer on the action plan and said he had not answered the question.
The Tánaiste, Simon Harris, promised voters an action plan on childcare within 100 days and here we are 400 days later with nothing to show for that but more empty words. The Minister does not need me to tell him that this sector is at breaking point for service providers, staff and, fundamentally, young families. The Social Democrats have called for a time-limited special Oireachtas committee to develop a pathway for the future vision of childcare and early years education in Ireland. That has fallen on deaf ears. We have asked for this many times previously. There is still no word, still no action plan and still no future vision for childcare. Now that the Tánaiste is the self-appointed Minister for Finance, there are no more excuses. Is the Government going to put its money where its mouth is and follow through on its commitment to €200 a month childcare and, most importantly right now, an action plan for the future of childcare and early years education in Ireland?
Comment on this
With the young population that we have, it is important we support childcare services. I was in this House when a previous Government, in 2009 to 2010, brought in the early childhood care and education programme, ECCE. We see the advancement of that in terms of childcare right the way across the country since then. While it is fair to make constructive criticisms, it is also fair, by way of balance, to see where we have come from and where we are now. If you look at budget 2026, €1.48 billion was allocated for early learning and childcare.
That is an increase of 9% on the previous year. Capital funding is rising as well, with 2,300 additional childcare places. The national childcare scheme supports 286,000 children. If we look at the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme nearly 98% of children are now participating in a scheme that did not exist 14 or 15 years ago.
Comment on this
The Minister needs to answer the question on the action plan.
Comment on this
I think I have answered the question so if the Deputy wants to keep interrupting-----