Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald today said that Sinn Féin in government will deliver childcare for €10 a day.
It is a plan that will make a lasting difference to parents, reducing their childcare costs by thousands of euros a year.
She added that Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael’s proposal would cause chaos in the childcare sector and is an utter con job which excludes tens of thousands of children and, in Fianna Fáil’s case, they haven’t even provided half of the money required to deliver the proposal. It is an election promise they have no intention of delivering on.
Ms McDonald said:
“The cost-of-living crisis has placed real pressure on working families. They’re hit by rip-off bills right across the board. One of the biggest costs many parents face is the sky-high cost of childcare with many paying the equivalent of a second mortgage or rent in fees.
“Sinn Féin has a plan to deliver childcare for €10 a day.
“It is a plan that will make a lasting difference to parents, reducing their childcare costs by thousands of euros a year.
“It is a plan that will deliver the childcare places needed and would bring in childminders as well as creches.
“It is a plan that will deliver proper pay for Early Years Educators. It is fully costed, it is ready to go, and we will deliver it by September of next year.
“Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael’s proposal would cause chaos in the childcare sector and is an utter con job which excludes tens of thousands of children and, in Fianna Fáil’s case, they haven’t even provided half of the money required to deliver the proposal. It is an election promise they have no intention of delivering on.
“Sinn Féin’s plan will support tens of thousands of additional places for children – twice what Fine Gael is promising.
“Fianna Fáil have not provided enough for pay increases – creches won’t be able to retain their staff. They have not provided enough for core funding increases – creches will close
“They have not provided for all childminders, so tens of thousands of children are excluded
“They have not provided enough to expand creche spaces, so capacity will be a problem.
“Sinn Féin have provided for all of that. Our €10 per day childcare promise costs €609 million. We’ve provided for it in full.
“It is a modern, exciting policy that will be a watershed for hard-pressed parents. Massive childcare costs often prevent parents from returning to work or even from having another child. That is so wrong. This is the plan to change that. The plan to ensure that childcare in Ireland is affordable.
“Sa toghchán seo, táimid ag rá le tuismitheoirí gurb ionann vóta ar son athrú rialtais agus vóta ar son cúram leanaí ar phraghas réasúnta. Táimid ag fiafraí oraibh rialtas nua a thoghadh faoi cheannas Sinn Féin a chuirfidh cúram leanaí inacmhainne ar fáil ag €10 in aghaidh an lae faoi Meán Fómhair seo chugainn.”
