Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Deputy Pauline Tully has called on public representatives across the Northern Sound region to ease the cost-of-childcare on parents.
Speaking ahead of her party's Dáil motion on the issue, Deputy Tully pointed out that Sinn Féin is calling for the Government to give families a break by cutting the cost of childcare by two thirds from 2022 levels.
Speaking to Northern sound, Deputy Tully highlighted that childcare fees are still far too high with many parents paying the equivalent of a second mortgage on childcare.
She pointed out that the rising cost of living is making childcare "a luxury" rather than an economic necessity.
Deputy Tully added that parents cannot avail of affordable childcare and this is forcing women, in particular, from entering the workforce and further education. "Parents need affordable, local and high-quality childcare - and they need it now," she continued. "They were promised that fees would decrease by 25% in budget 2024, and the Government must keep its word.
"The Government can and must act to ease the burden on parents and I am calling on TDs in Cavan-Monaghan to stand up for struggling households. "The reality is the 25% decrease in fees in budget 2023, while welcome, only slightly eased the financial burden on parents, given that many families continue to pay sky-high childcare fees.
"I am urging the government, and TDs from all parties in Cavan-Monaghan, to support our motion this week, and to make childcare genuinely affordable for working families."
