Sinn Féin has today launched a plan to deliver childcare at a cost of €10 a day per child.
The plan was published today by Party President Mary Lou McDonald TD, spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty TD, and spokesperson for Children, Claire Kerrane TD.
The fully-costed plan is ready to be delivered in the first year of government.
The plan would deliver subsidies to providers to bridge the gap between the actual cost of care and a €10 a day cap on fees charged to families. This mirrors international precedents where costs have been cut for families and would cost an investment of €345 million to deliver.
Teachta Kerrane said:
“Sinn Féin’s plan sets out how we would deliver childcare at €10 a day per child. This would ensure childcare is affordable for families. Our plan is fully-costed and ready to be delivered in the first year of government.
“Childcare in Ireland has been far too expensive for far too long. Government has taken a hands-off approach, instead of standing up to support families and ensure costs are affordable for parents.
“Under Sinn Féin’s plan, if your child attends childcare or a childminder full-time, five days a week, we will cut your childcare costs from €800 to €200 a month.
“Too many families struggle to find a suitable childcare place and are stuck on long waiting lists. Our fully-costed plan also sets out how we would ramp up capacity in the childcare sector, to ensure children can be guaranteed a space when they need it.
“Other countries cap the price of childcare and it is time to do it in Ireland where parents pay some of the highest childcare costs in Europe.
“Sinn Féin’s plan would involve an investment of €345 million funding. This is an important investment in families and in our children’s futures.
“With affordable childcare and affordable housing, Sinn Féin will make Ireland a better place to raise a family and build a future.”
Plean Shinn Féin seolta chun cúram leanaí a chur ar fáil ar €10 in aghaidh an linbh
Tá plean seolta ag Sinn Féin inniu chun cúram leanaí a chur ar fáil ar €10 in aghaidh an linbh.
D’fhoilsigh Uachtarán an Pháirtí Mary Lou McDonald TD, urlabhraí Airgeadais Pearse Doherty TD, agus urlabhraí Leanaí, Claire Kerrane TD, an plean inniu.
Chuirfeadh an plean fóirdheontais ar fáil do sholáthraithe chun an bhearna idir costas iarbhír an chúraim agus uasteorainn €10 in aghaidh an lae ar tháillí a ghearrtar ar theaghlaigh a dhúnadh. Tá sé sin ar aon dul le fasaigh idirnáisiúnta inar gearradh costais ar theaghlaigh agus chosnódh sé €345 milliún d’infheistíocht chun é a chur ar fáil.
Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Teachta Kerrane:
“Leagtar amach i bplean Shinn Féin conas a sholáthróimis cúram leanaí ar €10 in aghaidh an linbh in aghaidh an lae. Chinnteodh sé sin go mbeadh cúram leanaí inacmhainne do theaghlaigh.
Tá cúram leanaí in Éirinn i bhfad róchostasach le fada an lá. Tá cur chuige neamh-idirghabhálach glactha ag an Rialtas, in ionad an fód a sheasamh chun tacú le teaghlaigh agus a chinntiú go bhfuil costais inacmhainne do thuismitheoirí.
“Faoi phlean Shinn Féin, má fhreastalaíonn do leanbh ar chúram leanaí nó ar fheighlí leanaí go lánaimseartha, cúig lá sa tseachtain, gearrfaimid costais do chúraim leanaí ó €800 go €200 sa mhí.
“Tá an iomarca teaghlach ag streachailt chun áit oiriúnach cúraim leanaí a aimsiú agus tá siad sáinnithe ar liostaí fada feithimh. Leagtar amach inár bplean freisin an chaoi a gcuirfimis dlús leis an acmhainneacht san earnáil cúraim leanaí, lena chinntiú gur féidir spás a ráthú do leanaí nuair a bhíonn sé de dhíth orthu.
“Cuireann tíortha eile uasteorainn ar phraghas an chúraim leanaí agus tá sé in am é a dhéanamh in Éirinn, áit a n-íocann tuismitheoirí cuid de na costais chúraim leanaí is airde san Eoraip.
“Bheadh infheistíocht €345 milliún i gceist le plean Shinn Féin. Is infheistíocht thábhachtach í seo i dteaghlaigh agus i dtodhchaí ár leanaí.
“Le cúram leanaí inacmhainne agus tithíocht inacmhainne, déanfaidh Sinn Féin áit níos fearr d’Éirinn chun teaghlach agus todhchaí a thógáil.”
Sinn Féin’s plan ‘€10 A Day Childcare For All: Delivering Affordable Childcare For Parents’ is available to view here: https://sinnfein.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ffc5ff2fa2294c89d2ff7598e&id=e6fbaeeeb8&e=7cd07ee188
