Giving our children the best start in life

The early years of a child’s life have a profound impact on who they become. The first five years are critical, shaping future health, education, and well-being. A happy, nurturing environment during these formative years can set a child up for lifelong success.

In Fine Gael, we believe that every child deserves the best start in life, and supporting families in providing that start is central to our vision for Ireland’s future. This is why childcare is a core focus for us. Affordable, accessible, and high-quality childcare is not just about giving children the best opportunities but also empowering parents, grandparents and carers to better balance the demands of modern life.

We believe in equality of opportunity and investing in the health, education and care supports required by children with disabilities and special educational needs.

What We Will Do

In the next Government, we will significantly reduce childcare costs to ensure it is more affordable for all families. We will reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child, and introduce a cap for families with more than three children in childcare. No family should be burdened with excessive childcare fees.

We recognise that some areas are poorly served by childcare services. To address this, we will introduce state-led delivery of childcare services, prioritising areas with the greatest need. This will ensure that no family is left behind due to geographic disparities in service provision.

We will also increase childcare capacity by creating thousands of additional places in 100 State-led services each year. Expanding access to childcare is vital to meet the growing demand as more parents return to work. We will extend the National Childcare Scheme to include childminders who work in the home.

Building on Our Progress

Fine Gael has already laid a strong foundation in supporting children and families. In government, we established the first standalone Department of Children and Youth Affairs and set up Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. In 2019, we launched the ‘First Five’ strategy, Ireland’s first whole-of-government approach for babies, children, and families.

We introduced and expanded paid leave for parents, ensuring families are supported in those crucial early months. Our investment in childcare has already increased, and we introduced the National Childcare Scheme, which is designed to be fair and targeted, ensuring those who need the most support get it.

By continuing to increase the thresholds and subsidy rates, we are committed to making childcare more affordable, increasing capacity, and supporting both families and the childcare sector.

Giving our children the best start in life

The early years of a child’s life have a profound impact on who they become. The first five years are critical, shaping future health, education, and well-being. A happy, nurturing environment during these formative years can set a child up for lifelong success.

What We Will Do

Building on Our Progress

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