Bacik calls for childcare costs to be capped at €50 a week

The State should cap childcare costs at a maximum of €50 per child per week, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said.

She said that this move would make it affordable for parents to continue in the workforce.

Speaking at the Labour think-in in Maynooth, the Dublin Bay South TD told reporters that this move would bring Ireland in line with other European countries.

“We had a cost evaluation last year and it came to €275 million, we think it’s very achievable,” she said.

“We are renewing our call for the cap in the face of a real crisis in childcare and early years education. So many parents simply cannot find an affordable or indeed an available place in childcare.”

The Labour leader said her party would also prioritise seeking a fair deal for elder care, to allow people to live in their own homes, with support.

“We have seen the Government’s proposed €1.1 billion package of tax cuts; they’re saying, and what we are saying, is if the Government is going to be looking at tax cuts, they have to provide support to those households that are struggling the most. These are low-paid households,” she said.

“We hope the Government will take that on board and will not be simply throwing tax cuts at the highest paid.”

Addressing party members at the think-in, Bacik said “the bad old days are back, it seems.”

She accused the coalition of “cynically throwing money around in an attempt to buy votes, without making the systemic and structural investment necessary for real change.”

“As a result, we now have a State with record  surpluses- but a government that is incapable of addressing the crisis in our public services.”

Bacik took Minister Roderic O’Gorman to task over what she called a u-turn on childcare costs.

“In June, Minister O’Gorman assured voters of a 25% reduction in childcare costs as part of the government’s commitment to halving fees; last month, he confirmed that parents now can’t expect that reduction”

She said that a cap on childcare costs would be “the first step on the path to a universal public system of early years education and care.”

In a modern republic, there should be cradle-to-grave care for everyone, and that means dignity through old age and support through youth.”