Childcare: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-23
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Dee Ryan (FF), Nominated by the Taoiseach

I too would like to echo the comments of Senator Comyn and many of the comments made across the House during the debate. I wish to thank the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, for their time and all the work they are doing in this area. We have heard a comprehensive address this evening from the Minister of the ongoing investment into the sector and the significant and ongoing work in the Department. I wanted to acknowledge that work and to wish them well with the continued work.
I would like to report from Limerick that while parents are telling me that costs have fallen when I am on the doors every week, the challenge remains around capacity. While it is not the second mortgage that it may have been at the start of my childcare journey, it is a real and significant challenge to secure spaces. Many working mothers or parents who need that additional support in their homes are reporting that it has been multiple years that they may have to wait to secure a spot in Limerick and the mid-west area. I thank the Minister for her ongoing work in the area. I wish her well with this. I acknowledge the progress that has been made and the ambition within the Department.

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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