Sinn Féin supports Alliance for Public Childcare outside Leinster House today – Claire Kerrane TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children, Disability, and Equality, Claire Kerrane TD, has called on Minister Foley to deliver on promises made in the Programme for Government following action by the Alliance for Public Early Childhood Education & Care outside Leinster House today.

Deputy Kerrane was speaking today as she joined members of the Alliance, made up of more than 40 organisations and trade unions, led by the National Women’s Council, outside the Dáil to call on the government to act on promises made before the General Election.

Teachta Kerrane said:

“Today, I joined activists from across various organisations and unions calling on the Government to honour their commitments ahead of the General Election on public Childcare.

“Simon Harris spoke a number of times ahead of the General Election of his commitment to a public childcare model, and it being a ‘key priority’ if Fine Gael were returned to Government.

“He has been utterly silent on this since.

“The Programme for Government commits to undertake a broad consultation and to publish a detailed Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care and to add state-led capacity where needed.

“I welcome this commitment as there is an urgent need to explore a public model of childcare and to date, that has not been done in the Irish context.

“However, we are approaching 100 days of this government, and we still haven’t seen any action.

“Today, was a further step in ramping up this campaign and I look forward to working with the Alliance in pushing this government to do the right thing for children, parents, providers and Early Years Educators.”