Results 541-560 of 1,033,979 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Rose Conway Walsh OR speaker:Niall Collins) in 'Committee meetings'

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Mick Barry: I want to make a few points about daycare in my constituency of Cork North Central. Northside Community Enterprises are currently waiting on a green light from the Department for funding of approximately €300,000 to renovate the old Before 5 family centre in Churchfield. This early learning childcare and community centre was closed suddenly in August 2023 with more than 100 children...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank Deputy Barry. We go to the Regional Group and Deputy Verona Murphy is sharing time with Deputy Tóibín.

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this motion forward. It is always important to be able to discuss childcare provision and early education in this Chamber. Interestingly, in the past half hour I had a conversation with a young parent. He told me about his personal experience of getting childcare. He spoke about the stress of trying to find places and pay for them, the stress of getting...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Deputy Mick Barry is sharing time with Deputy Paul Murphy.

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Patricia Ryan: I thank Deputies Kerrane and Funchion for bringing this motion forward. Irish parents now pay some of the highest childcare fees in the OECD. Some pay the equivalent of a second mortgage, at nearly €1,400 per month, with my own constituency of South Kildare ranking among the most expensive counties for crèches in Ireland. This is an intolerable strain on parents who are already...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: I welcome the opportunity to discuss early years education in the Chamber this evening. Unfortunately, for those of us who are serious about a publicly provided system of early years education, this motion does not meet the vision of that goal. This motion from Sinn Féin, and the confusing and contrary contributions we have heard so far, do not speak to where the early years education...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Deputy Quinlivan is sharing time with Deputies Martin Browne, Cronin and Ellis.

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Maurice Quinlivan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Too many families are paying what is in many cases equivalent to a second mortgage when it comes to childcare. Having to contend with the astronomical price of childcare puts severe stress on families from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Regardless of ability to pay, there is the initial stress of sourcing a childcare provider. I am dealing with a family who...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Martin Browne: I commend Deputies Kerrane and Funchion on putting this motion together and bringing it to the House. Despite the lack of a coherent message or plan from the Government parties about the structure of childcare going forward, Sinn Féin’s policy and its plans are clear and costed and are designed to address the immediate needs of parents and the sector. The system, as it is...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Réada Cronin: I was amused on the first day of the new term to see the words "public good" in the Government amendment. Between the lot of you, you would not know public good from public bad if it jumped up and bit you. There is the overpriced daylight-robbery bike shed or the abuse of Irish airspace to commit genocide in Gaza. All of a sudden when Sinn Féin publishes its childcare plan, the...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Working parents who are trying to hold down a job and at the same time care for young children find it difficult and stressful to do both. This is particularly acute when there is no family member who can act as a caregiver to the child or if the job has no flexibility in working hours. These days few parents can afford to stay at home because of the ever-increasing cost of living, the...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Paul Donnelly: Childcare should be a public service. Adequate childcare should be a help to parents, not be a financial burden. It is often said that childcare is akin to having a second mortgage, with the average cost running from €800 per month and with many parents in Dublin West paying far more than that. The current system is a deterrent for parents, in particular single parents, to take up...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes that: — the present Government has implemented the most significant reform agenda to early learning and childcare in the history of the State; — total Government investment in early learning and childcare has almost doubled since 2020, rising to €1.1...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: I commend an Teachta Clare Kerrane on bringing forward this policy and Kathleen Funchion for the work she has done in this area. Access to affordable childcare is a game-changer. I hope the Minister knows that. He certainly has not delivered but an Teachta Kerrane has the plan and the ideas - €10 per day per child. That is exactly what parents need. They need certainty and they...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Deputy Kerrane for bringing forward this motion. The Sinn Féin plan to deliver childcare at €10 per day or €200 per month is visionary and ambitious but it is also realistic and achievable. In that regard, all we have to do is look to the likes of Denmark and Sweden for examples. In Meath, on the basis of CSO figures, almost 10,300 children would benefit from...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The plan that has been unveiled by Deputy Kerrane is visionary. It is a really exciting policy that can be a game-changer. Delivering childcare for €10 per child per day is essential and I would emphasise that. This is not a policy that the Minister should implement because it is a good or sensible policy. It is a necessary policy. It has to happen. It is a strategic imperative...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Pauline Tully: I commend Deputy Kerrane on bringing forward this motion and on the work she has done on the policy and commend her predecessor, the former Deputy Kathleen Funchion, on all the work she did in this area as well. Childcare needs to be affordable, accessible and reliable but it is not any of those things at the moment. An average cost of €800 per month is not affordable. Many...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: The Deputy will be in possession when the debate resumes tomorrow.

Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)

Debate adjourned.

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)