Childcare: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-23
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Fiona O'Loughlin (FF), Administrative Panel

I also welcome the delegation. I took the opportunity in the House yesterday to mention the important work the Committee of the Regions does and the fact it had the bureau in Mullingar yesterday. I also congratulated the leader of the Irish delegation, Gillian Coughlan, on being the incoming leader of the Renew group. It is the first time an Irish councillor has taken this position. It is great to see Gillian. I hope all our guests have an excellent evening and a really good trip.
I thank the Minister for being here. It gives me great pride to second the motion. There was a myriad of topics we, as a Fianna Fáil group, could have taken for our first Private Members' business after recess but we agreed collectively this was one of the main topics that impacted so many people in the areas we live in. Weekly, if not daily, we have people contacting us, particularly in developing areas, on childcare and its importance. The motion refers to affordable, accessible and high-quality childcare and to the need to support workers in the childcare system. We really depend on them. The motion is strong on continued professional development for them. For childcare to work, it has to work for everybody. It has to work for the families, for the proprietors and operators of the physical facilities and for those working in the system. If we did not have proper childcare, how would many people who work in this building come here? Think of all the wonderful people who help organise our days as Members of the House. It is really important.
The Minister has done a lot of work and a lot of investment has gone in. We are on a pathway to reducing the cost but having the physical places is every bit as important, as is supporting childminders in the home. I was very struck recently at a meeting at quite a large employment facility in Mayo, where 300 people worked, that it was the first issue the employers brought up with us as a delegation. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, was there. They faced a challenge as employers in getting women to come back into the workforce after their maternity leave. There was a real problem in accessing childcare. We need to look at it from the employers' point of view too. They want to support those who need to avail of it.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-23