LAST UPDATE | 11 Sep

SIMON HARRIS SAYS he wants childcare to be a part of the publicly funded education system.  

Speaking at the Fine Gael think-in in Tullamore today, he said when schools are being built, childcare facilities should be built alongside them, stating that it would be a key Fine Gael election manifesto commitment to build a publicly funded early learning and childcare system.

In his opening speech at the two-day event Harris said the aim is to create an affordable, accessible model that will reduce the reliance on the private sector.

“I am proud of what we have achieved in reducing the cost of childcare but now I want us to ask ourselves how we can be more ambitious,” he said. 

“The evidence is clear: Investing heavily in high quality early childcare and early childhood education reaps great rewards in later life.

“It also reduces educational inequalities, particularly for those who may be experiencing disadvantage, and it enables women to fulfil their ambitions,” he added. 

Harris said he wants to develop a childcare system that works for every parent, stating: 

“I don’t believe this vision will ever be achieved if we simply leave it to the market, frankly the stakes are far too high, and parents want certainty.”

“So now I want Fine Gael to make that shift and do what is in the best interests of children and their families, by moving to a new stage in the development of childcare in this country,” he said. 

Building childcare facilities next to schools

While he said parents across the country will have received a much-needed cut in their childcare costs this month, there is a need to “continually raise the scale of our ambition”.  

He told reporters that when he meets people in his hometown of Greystones, they tell him that they welcome the reduced cost of childcare, but they also tell him that they can’t get their child a place in childcare.

Harris said when the government builds schools, childcare facilities should also be built beside the schools. 

“Why don’t we build that as part of the public system? That’s the sort of ambition we have to have,” he said, stating that he will open it up to public consultation this week.

The Taoiseach outlined some budget priorities, indicating that some budget will include “helping working families with the bills including energy, transport and rent”.

In last year’s budget, every household received €450 off bills in the form of three €150 electricity credits.

Cost-of-living package

While Harris said the cost-of-living package had yet to be agreed by party leaders, he believes the template used in previous years is “worth following”.

“There have been some measures which people benefit from universally, and there are a more substantial range of measures that are targeted at those most in need and those most at risk of the ongoing cost of living challenge.

He mentioned fuel allowance, making sure that older people get an additional level of support, people with a disability and carers as particular groups to target. 

“I am genuinely concerned when it comes to the issue of child poverty… I can point to statistics that show much economic and social progress that I’m proud of. There are still too many children in our country who are hungry,” he said. 

The party meets at a time when speculation is high about when the general election will be held.

A recent poll found that the two main coalition parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, have risen while voters have continued to sour on the prospect of a Sinn Féin-led government.

Candidate selection conventions for the majority of political parties are now almost complete.

Over 70 Fine Gael politicians and general election candidates will attend the event over the next two days. Fine Gael has chosen 47 candidates in 30 constituencies, of which 16 are women.

This places Fine Gael at 34% of the gender quota with 13 constituencies to go.

Harris reiterated today that he has publicly committed to this government going “full term. “My position hasn’t changed,” he said.