Families will benefit from Labour's ambitious childcare plan

Issued : Tuesday 16 February, 2016

Families across LAOIS and Kildare will benefit from Labour's plan to introduce a €2 per hour childcare system, Senator John Whelan has said. It follows the publication of the Labour Party’s childcare proposals.

Labour’s Whelan said the changes will mean that families in the Laois constituency will have a little more money in their pocket at the end of each month.

“Our 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.

"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.

“By 2021, the cost to parents will be €2 per hour, for up to 40 hours per week. Our approach will save local parents thousands each year.

This proposal will be of interest to the parents of over 18,000 children in Laois and south Kildare who could potentially benefit from these childcare initiatives.

“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 raise living standards for people and invest in families and childcare.

"This is the kind of family-friendly policies and priorities that you get when you have women in senior positions of influence within a political party. These ambitious, but attainable childcare objectives are being driven by Joan Burton and Jan O Sullivan. The Labour Party didn't have to press gang women candidates to be added to the ticket just to qualify for the gender quota rules, as we already have women at the heart of the party in senior positions.

"Childcare costs are very often the second biggest financial burden on working couples after their mortgage or rent repayments. To improve and provide access to quality childcare is a big challenge and a bold commitment. It can also only be achieved if those working in the sector are properly trained and properly payed a decent living wage. "