To: Catherine Zappone, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

We Need Fully State Funded Childcare from Birth

Create a bill for the Government to introduce universal and full-time fully state funded childcare as an option to working parents.

Why is this important?

Many parents, but mostly mothers, are taking the difficult decision to put their career on hold and leaving jobs they love because the cost of childcare makes working unaffordable. In the majority of cases this leaves them dependent on their spouse/partner for an income. Many are unable to fully afford the basics like rent, food and clothing until their youngest goes to school, some longer than that. Let's stop punishing parents. Let's make Ireland a family friendly society and truly cherish our children. In the relatively short time that is childhood let's support parents in their choice to have children and give them access to fully state funded childcare.