€10 a day childcare could benefit 5,000 children in Louth says Ó Murchú

Almost 5,000 children in Louth would benefit from Sinn Féin’s plan to deliver childcare at a cost of €10 a day, the party's Dundalk TD, Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú, has said.

The fully costed plan was launched by Sinn Féin this week, which the party claims is ready to be delivered in the first year of government. Commenting on the plan, Deputy Ó Murchú said: “Sinn Féin’s plan sets out how we would deliver childcare at €10 a day per child. This would ensure childcare is affordable for families in Louth.

“Our plan is fully-costed and ready to be delivered in the first year of government. Figures from the CSO show that here in Louth there are 4,786 children in childcare who would benefit from Sinn Féin’s plan. This would make a real difference for families.”

The Sinn Féin TD continued: “Childcare in Ireland has been far too expensive for far too long. Sinn Féin’s plan would change that by delivering affordable childcare. Under Sinn Féin’s plan, if your child attends childcare or a childminder full-time, five days a week, we will cut your childcare costs from €800 to €200 a month.

“Other countries cap the price of childcare and it is time to do it in Ireland where parents pay some of the highest childcare costs in Europe. Sinn Féin’s plan would involve an investment of €345 million. Fees have been frozen over the last number of years and in that time, providers have seen costs increase substantially.

“Pobal and others have been very clear that there is a viability issue for some providers in the childcare sector, hence why there is now a danger of some providers opting out of core funding and increasing their fees.”

Speaking about the provision of childcare locally at the moment, Deputy Ó Murchú said that: “Childcare providers in Dundalk have been in touch with me as recently as last week saying that they are struggling and the current system is not fit for purpose.

“This would be a disaster for parents, many of whom would not be able to afford increased fees, a concern which has been voiced by many providers facing this issue. Sinn Féin is committing to a full review of core funding.

“We would demand full transparency from providers so that we can establish the degree to which costs have increased, the severity of the viability issue, and estimate the necessary increases to core funding required to ensure providers can continue delivering such an essential service without financial distress.”