In the run-up to the last general election, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were in panic mode. In an effort to distract voters from the Government's failure to deliver they began splashing the cash, giving nearly everyone in the country a one-off payment which hit bank accounts in the week leading up to the election. Not just that, but a range of cast-iron commitments were made to the electorate. Chief among them was a promise to cap the cost of childcare at €200 a month. We were told that childcare costs were at the top of Fianna Fáil's agenda, while Fine Gael promised to publish a plan to cap costs and deliver a public model of childcare within the first 100 days of office. A full 475 days later, where are we now? Childcare costs have not come down by a single cent. Families with young children are still paying enormous sums for childcare. That is if they are lucky enough to even get a childcare place because it is almost impossible to get one, especially for babies between six and 12 months of age. This means thousands of women all over the country having to take unpaid maternity leave so they can care for their babies. It is stressful, it is a struggle and it is hugely expensive. In an interview with Gavan Reilly on Monday the Taoiseach refused to commit to reducing childcare costs in the next budget. It was extraordinary to witness, given all of the pre-election bluster. The reality is that our childcare system is broken but, instead of reforming it, the Taoiseach wants to continue with business as usual. We have the resources to transform childcare services, rolling out a public model that would be accessible and affordable. It would mean the State treating childcare with the level of seriousness primary and secondary education get, recognising that investment in early years and the first few years of a child's life pays dividends over a lifetime. The Social Democrats was the first party to publish a plan for a public model of childcare. We did that two years ago, detailing how we would set up a public childcare model to acquire private businesses that wanted to sell, because we know there are businesses that want to sell. Just this week, one of Ireland's biggest childcare operators, Tigers Childcare, was acquired by a large UK company, Kids Planet Day Nurseries. That deal was worth €75 million. That is a drop in the ocean of the surpluses available to this Government but the grim reality is that this Government, which is awash with cash, lacks both vision and ambition. The Government is incapable of investing the money wisely and reforming our public services, driving down costs for families, transforming people's lives in the long term for the better. Why will the Taoiseach not commit to reducing childcare fees in the budget and where is the plan to roll out a public model of childcare?
Sentiment score: 0.02
The Taoiseach seems to just think it is par for the course to make these big election promises to people and then completely, unashamedly renege on them afterwards.
Sentiment score: 0.38
He seems to think that plámásing the electorate and promising things is just part of electioneering. It is not. People believed the Taoiseach when he said there would be a reduction in childcare fees. People believed this Government when it promised to roll out a plan for a public model of childcare. I just hope that people watching will judge this Government not on its empty promises in the lead-up to the next election but on its actions now. The Taoiseach says I will not acknowledge progress and is talking about workers in this sector. Does he acknowledge that workers in the childcare sector have the same level of training and qualifications as other teachers but get paid minimum wage and in the summer months have to sign on? Where is the progress for workers in this sector? Does the Taoiseach acknowledge that without a public model of childcare, without any actual childcare at all for so many families, we will never reach gender equality and that this stifles women's careers? It blocks them from getting back into the workplace. The Taoiseach lists off his script of things there as if that is progress.
Sentiment score: 0.14
I think you should examine them.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I did not say seamlessly. Did you read our proposal?
Sentiment score: 0.00
You obviously have not read the proposal.
Sentiment score: 0.00