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Publicly funded childcare manifesto pledge and budget promises outlined at FG think-in

Harris will host his first Fine Gael party think-in in Tullamore today.

LAST UPDATE | 11 Sep 2024

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. 

 

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    Mute silvery moon
    Favourite silvery moon
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    Sep 11th 2024, 3:32 PM

    Any chance ye could reinstate all the disability services that were cut in 2019 for all new services users going from special need schools into day services, 30 Hour week that was cut down from 39 hours, No transport, No therapies, costing nearly €200 per week from his disability allowance €238 to have my son going to his day service 3 days a week because we cannot afford the petrol for his 5 days, also have to pay for food, activities and petrol for him to be able to go to the centre and my son spends 2 hours per day in the car as his day service is a 30 minute drive. He has €38 left over to pay rent, utilities, food, activates and other essentials at home all from what’s left over, we have to subsidise him from a carers allowance that I get and old age pension that his dad gets. Once a person with disabilities profound or other turn 18 years old all services are taken away and are entitled to no services at all.

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    Mute Paddy C
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    Sep 11th 2024, 7:23 PM

    @silvery moon: absolutely spot on, people with disabilities and carers should be priority. I’d be more than happy to get nothing extra out of the budget and see those people get help, it would bring much better satisfaction to see those who are neglected get more help even though we all whinge about wanting more that it where it is needed most.

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    Mute Mary.E.
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    Sep 11th 2024, 11:32 PM

    @silvery moon:
    Shocking.
    I hope your son gets better assistance and soon.

    20
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    Mute Michale Kane
    Favourite Michale Kane
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    Sep 11th 2024, 4:27 PM

    Some examples of previous FG election manifestos broken promises…

    2016 FG Election Manifesto Delivered by Kenny who was gone by next election

    - Abolish USC by 2021
    - provide 110,000 social housing units by 2020.

    2020 FG Election Manifesto Delivered by Varadkar who abdicated

    - Change USC threshold
    - Provide 60,000 social houses in 5 yrs
    - Free GP care to all under 18

    Fool me once

    151
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    Mute Brian Hackett
    Favourite Brian Hackett
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    Sep 11th 2024, 7:11 PM

    Quick think tank… How do we buy more votes???

    52
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    Mute 9QRixo8H
    Favourite 9QRixo8H
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    Sep 11th 2024, 3:57 PM

    FG want to bring in publicly-funded childcare! That is socialist childcare! From a party that’s supposed to be for privitisation/capitalism. I would expect SF to propose this, while FG propose privatised childcare.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Sep 11th 2024, 5:26 PM

    @9QRixo8H: Why is it always one or the other? there isn’t anywhere in the world where only one exits

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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Sep 11th 2024, 5:52 PM

    @Thesaltyurchin: because publicly-funded services *is* socialism. Privately-paid services is capitalism, which hasn’t been working out for childcare so now they need socialist childcare instead of privatised childcare.

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    Mute Darth O'Leary
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    Sep 11th 2024, 5:56 PM

    @9QRixo8H: It’s a political sound bite on the eve of an election. Don’t believe a word of it

    55
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    Mute Colette Byrne
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    Sep 11th 2024, 4:24 PM

    Taken from recommendations from Citizens assembly on Gender Equality. They voted 100% on the care part.
    That the state should bring childcare and elderly care back under public ownership. It’s not the Brain child of Simon Harris.

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Sep 11th 2024, 7:37 PM

    Is there an election soon or am I missing something?

    41
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    Mute Pat Hazzard
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    Sep 11th 2024, 7:41 PM

    @Padraig O’Brien: in March 25, they do happen every 5 years

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    Mute Darth O'Leary
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    Sep 11th 2024, 7:57 PM

    @Padraig O’Brien: November

    21
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    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
    Favourite Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
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    Sep 11th 2024, 10:36 PM

    A FG think-in. Is that an oxymoron?

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    Mute Michael o connor
    Favourite Michael o connor
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    Sep 11th 2024, 10:29 PM

    Strange to see “independent” Michael Lowry there.

    17
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