Today’s budget will be met with bitter disappointment by parents due to the absence of measures to bring down the cost of childcare, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly.
Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said:
“Despite Tánaiste Simon Harris expressing support for a public model of childcare before last year’s general election, this commitment was quietly dropped from the Programme for Government. Instead, there was only a vague commitment to bring down the monthly cost to €200 per child, with no timeline for when this would happen.
“It is difficult to see how this can be achieved during the lifetime of this government when its first budget is silent on the issue. At the very least, funding should have been provided to begin reducing childcare fees, along with measures to begin establishing a public model of childcare.
“The Social Democrats have a clear goal as to how we can achieve this. Overseen by a National Childcare Agency, a public model would have the triple benefit of guaranteeing quality early years education and care for children, affordability for parents, and appropriate pay and conditions for those working in the sector.
“To start this process, there should be capital investment in publicly owned not-for-profit childcare facilities, using surplus exchequer funds to acquire Early Childhood and Education Care (ECEC) on new and existing sites.
“Today’s budget also ignores the failings of the core funding model, which is resulting in childcare providers leaving the programme in their droves – driving up costs for parents.
“Early years should be seen by the government as a public good and part of essential infrastructure. It is unforgivable the issue has been so blatantly ignored in this budget.”
October 7, 2025