Cllr Aine Clancy

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One Year Pre-School Promise

Issued : Tuesday 2 June, 2009

The Government's silence on the one year pre-school promise unveiled in the recent budget is causing serious concern among parents according to Labour's Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Cabra and Navan Road candidate Áine Clancy. This scheme, originally proposed by the Labour Party's former leader Pat Rabbitte and cleverly robbed by the FF/Green coalition looks like they actually don't know what it was meant for, and are clearly out of touch with reality.

Áine Clancy said: "The recent budget hit families with young children hard. The early years' childcare supplement was slashed, hundreds of families have seen mortgage interest relief axed and the prospect of child benefit cuts in December is now a reality.

"At the budget the Government tried to placate the anger of parents by announcing a scheme to give every child one year's free pre-school. Meeting young parents in Dublin Central I know there is huge concern about whether the Government will deliver on this promise. The silence in relation to the scheme since it was announced feeds into that uncertainty

"Now more than ever, families with young children need to budget and plan. I am calling on the Government to come clean on the progress that has been made to date in relation to the pre-school scheme and let parents know where they stand. 

Áine