ACTION, NOT SPIN, NEEDED ON CHILDCARE COST CRISIS – FF

Published on: 13 January 2015


Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Children, Robert Troy TD has responded to the Government’s latest PR campaign on the childcare cost crisis.  The FF Deputy questioned why nothing was done on the issue in the 2015 budget and said that what families wanted from the Government was concrete plans and action, not more spin.

Deputy Troy commented, “Today we see another morning with another front page headline telling us about the great things that the Government has planned at some unspecified time in the future.  This time, we’re told that “over the course of several future budgets” and by best utilising the money already spent on childcare, that the Government might do something to address the crippling costs faced by families.

“In our pre budget submission last year, Fianna Fáil advocated a number of measures which would address the complexities of the issues facing this crucial sector. These include childcare supports for parents returning to work as well as for those on low incomes, and a second pre-school year for children with special needs.  Meanwhile, the Government has repeatedly failed to address the crisis.  Why was the opportunity not taken in the last budget when extra unplanned resources were available?  Instead of reading about future promises, these families could be enjoying some relief today.

“This morning’s speculation comes some three years after the now Labour Party Leader Joan Burton promised the imminent introduction of a Scandinavian style childcare scheme.  In the intervening three years, nothing has been done to deliver on that promise.

“This morning’s speculation also follows an intense few weeks of increasingly generous and populist promises from various Government ‘sources’, talking about tax cuts, abolition of the pension levy and cuts to the USC.  These same Government sources do not seem to realise that the public see through these tactics and are growing increasingly frustrated with the failure of the Government to use the mandate it has.

“In Fianna Fáil we are committed to delivering a comprehensive transformation of the cost and quality of childcare and I have brought forward detailed proposals in this area.  I would encourage the Government to examine these proposals if it is indeed serious about change in this area.”

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