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Pringle calls for State-funded public childcare
- Updated: 24th September 2024
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, called on the Government to introduce State-funded public childcare, as he spoke of the childcare challenges Donegal parents face.
Addressing the Dáil on Wednesday evening, Deputy Pringle said: “I fully support this motion, particularly its calls on the government to make childcare more affordable for parents and to increase pay for early years educators.
“However, I don’t believe that the motion goes far enough, and we should be aiming for public childcare that is completely State-funded,” he said.
The deputy was speaking on the Sinn Féin motion regarding Childcare.
Deputy Pringle said: “In this economy, two incomes are needed to make ends meet and most parents are forced to work to get by, leaving them with no choice but to put their children into childcare. They are then faced with a lack of available childcare, particularly if their child has any additional needs, and punished with extortionate childcare fees.
“Over the last few days, I have been talking to many constituents of mine in Donegal about the childcare challenges they face.
“One constituent had to go to another county to access childcare for their child, while another described how there were no SNAs available for their child with additional needs in any of the nearby childcare facilities.
“They said: ‘My partner and I have to work full time to pay bills and live. It’s a constant battle with services and lack of them and a never-ending worry.’
“The term most often used by constituents to describe paying for childcare is ‘a second mortgage’. That is how expensive childcare has become,” he said.
The deputy said: “It is an absolute disgrace and people rightly feel that they are being hit from every angle.
“Another constituent described how they were paying €450 a week for childcare in Donegal for two kids and said, ‘I felt I needed to remain working even though it was at a loss somewhat because I would be de-skilled, perhaps, if I’d taken time away from it. I’m not sure how everyone does it. So many sacrifices were made.’
“It is shocking to hear people’s stories and unfortunately the Minister is happy to let parents blame childcare providers, whose hands are tied in many instances because the increase in the subsidies is being written off by the increase in the cost of childcare.
“I spoke to one manager who described having no choice but to increase prices due to costs, just one of which was €5,000 a month for food for the services they provide.
“We need to accept that the real issue lies with the Department and there is a real need for Ireland to introduce public childcare for everyone, at a fair cost,” he said.
