12/02/2014

Fianna Fáil Bring Childcare Motion To Dáil

A motion that aims to drive down the cost of childcare and introduce a new tax break for working families will be brought in front of the Dáil on Wednesday night.

Fianna Fáil will table the motion, which calls on the government to increase the accessibility and affordability of childcare.

Fianna Fáil's Children Spokesperson Robert Troy said: "The cost of childcare is one of the major issues facing families at the moment. The annual cost of full-time childcare for two children is over €16,000 a year. In many cases childcare is the biggest cost for families every month after their mortgage payment.

"Fianna Fáil’s motion is calling for a new childcare incentive to tackle the problem of childcare costs preventing people from getting into the workplace. We believe there is scope for the government to provide a direct payment through the Family Income Supplement (FIS) to address childcare costs, to widen the range of childcare options available to low income working families and to introduce a new tax break for working families with children whose income is marginally above the FIS limits."

(MH/CD)

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