Childcare costs "pushing many Offaly families to the brink"

Sinn Féin Local Election Candidate in Tullamore LEA, Aoife Masterson, has called on TDs in Offaly to stand up for struggling households, and to act to ease the cost-of-childcare burden on parents.

Speaking ahead of her party’s Dáil motion on the issue, brought forward by spokesperson on Children, Kathleen Funchion, Ms Masterson added that Sinn Féin is calling for the government to give families a break by cutting the cost of childcare by two-thirds from 2022 levels.

"Paying the equivalent of a second mortgage on childcare in the middle of a cost of living crisis with record energy costs and housing costs, is pushing many Offaly families to the brink" said Ms. Masterson, who has called on the government to act to ease the burden on parents.

"I am calling on TDs in Offaly to stand up for struggling households, as the rising cost of living is making childcare a luxury rather than an economic necessity."

The Sinn Féin candidate also claimed that the lack of affordable childcare is preventing parents, and women in particular, from entering the workforce and further education.

“Parents need affordable, local and high-quality childcare – and they need it now. They were promised that fees would decrease by 25% in budget 2024, and the government must keep its word.

“The reality is the 25% decrease in fees in budget 2023, while welcome, only slightly eased the financial burden on parents, given that many families continue to pay sky-high childcare fees.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children, Kathleen Funchion, is calling for the government to give families a break by cutting the cost of childcare by two-thirds from 2022 levels, and to allocate additional funding to provide fair pay for professionals working in the sector.

“I am urging the government, and TDs from all parties in Offaly, to support our motion this week, and to make childcare genuinely affordable for working families" said Aoife Masterson.