The head of the Green Party has stated that €1.2 billion would be invested on childcare in the budget, reports Breaking News.
During his tenure as Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman claimed to have “done most of the heavy lifting” in boosting funding for early childhood care and education, stating that it had doubled.
Speaking to reporters at the Green think-in in Dublin, Mr. O’Gorman stated that the party’s general election manifesto will include policies aimed at bringing down the cost of childcare.
In his future outlook, he said that the State must “step in” and directly offer childcare using a public approach, reports Breaking News.
Simon Harris, the Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, has also said that his party will begin a consultation process for the establishment of a public early education and childcare service.
Asked on Monday if Fine Gael was taking the Green Party’s policies, Mr O’Gorman said: “I have fought over four budgets now to grow the budget for for early years (childcare and education) in our country. When I became minister, it was €638 million per year, in Budget 2025 it’ll be over €1.2 billion. So I’ve doubled it in the course of of four years. Obviously a Budget is done across all parties but I felt that I’ve done most of the heavy lifting for that that extra investment myself,” reports Breaking News.
“Glad to see the Taoiseach endorsing our idea” of increased State participation in early childhood care and education, stated Mr. O’Gorman.
When asked if he would classify the suggestion as coming from the Green Party rather than Fine Gael, he responded, “Yeah, it’s a Green idea.”
Furthermore, Mr O’Gorman outlined the party’s plan to expand free public transit from children under five to children under nine, reports Breaking News.
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