Children to benefit from Labour’s childcare plan

Speaking at Labour’s ‘Standing up for working families’ campaign launch:

Families across the country will potentially benefit from Labour’s plan to introduce a €2 per hour childcare system, Labour candidate for Dublin South West Cllr Pamela Kearns has said.

Speaking today at the launch of the Labour’s ‘Standing Up For Working Families’ campaign, Cllr Kearns, who is a childcare professional, said: “This state has never sufficiently invested in childcare. As the economy recovers, Labour will change that for once and for all.

“We have an ambitious and detailed plan to put in place a national childcare scheme.

“It proposes that parents will be allowed to access subsidised childcare for all children under the age of 12 – covering pre-school children as well as after school care.

“We will move immediately to cap the cost of childcare for all children under 12 to €4.25 per hour for up to 40 hours of childcare a week in 2017. By 2021, the cost to parents will be €2 per hour, for up to 40 hours per week. Our approach will save parents thousands each year.

“When Labour entered Government in 2011 we had to make a number of difficult decisions that were necessary to put this country back on a stable path.

“Having persevered and restored the public finances, I am pleased that we now have the room to invest in families and childcare.

“Labour in government has reduced the USC for middle and low income workers, increased child benefit, introduced a second year of pre-school education and implemented free GP care for under 6’s.

“Furthermore, our plan will extend paid parental leave by 3 months over the next five years and will reduce the cost of childcare, extend parental leave and paid paternity leave, and continue to roll out free GP care for every child.”