Kathleen Funchion welcomes childcare measures but warns of delays
Deputy Kathleen Funchion addressed the Budget, welcoming recognition of the early years childcare sector while warning that proposed changes risk delay and may not secure improved wages. She also raised concerns about after-school supports, the exclusion of non-working parents, and growing fuel poverty among families.
Early years childcare
She welcomed that the Budget acknowledged the early years childcare sector and noted the Minister's presence in the Chamber. However she expressed disappointment that implementation is scheduled to begin in September and warned that reliance on the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) talks could delay meaningful change into January 2023.
Wages and fee relief
Funchion said she would have preferred a wage scale introduced starting at the living wage and immediate reductions in fees for parents. While calling the Budget a step in the right direction, she argued workers' pay and sector fees should not be solely dependent on the outcome of JLC negotiations.
After-school supports and information gaps
She welcomed changes for the after-school cohort but flagged that parents who are not working appear to be excluded from those measures. She also criticised the department for not live-streaming its press conference, saying further details and questions are needed.
Fuel poverty concerns
Funchion warned that, despite an increase in the fuel allowance, many families will not qualify and will face a difficult winter. She said the absence of broader assistance risks pushing households into deeper fuel poverty and other forms of poverty in her constituency and beyond.
Time constraints
She noted she had only two and a half minutes to speak and indicated she might return to raise further questions later.
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Thank you very much, Cathaoirleach. So I am going to start with some of the positives. I do welcome that there was a recognition of the early years childcare sector in this Budget Minister and I actually welcome that you are in the Chamber here. I think this is the first time I have ever responded to a Budget where the Minister that I met, let's say, is actually present, so that is welcome. However, I have to say I am disappointed that it will be September and I worry about the JLC talks process and I would hope that maybe we can, that can be looked at in terms of, just from my own background in the union, I do know that JLC talks can go on a lot longer than anyone envisaged, they can have breakdowns at times and I think it's really important that the whole issue of the wages and everything for workers in the sector isn't solely reliant on that. You know, I do think that, you know, I do think that I would have liked to see a wage scale introduced starting at the living wage and I would have liked to see fees being reduced now, but I do welcome it's a step in the right direction. I am worried that September actually means January 2023 before we see any real changes. So I think that's something that we will need to keep a close eye on. It's welcome in relation to the changes for the after school cohort. However, parents who are not working, and I have raised this up with you on a number of occasions, I think still fall outside that. So that is something I would like to get more information on, because unfortunately as well the press conference that the department did wasn't actually live streamed, which we thought it was going to be, so some of those we will have to get questions to. I want to then also just not solely focus on the issue of childcare in the early years, I just want to in general raise an issue that is going to be really, really relevant in my constituency and loads of areas as well in relation to fuel poverty. While there was an increase in the fuel allowance, there are so many families that do not qualify for the fuel allowance that really, really struggle and that are, you know, are really facing a very, very difficult winter. And I think we definitely was very disappointed not to see something done for them. We are pushing families into not just fuel poverty, but all sorts of other poverty when you take away or when you don't give them any help or assistance with that. There is lots more I can say. Unfortunately I have only 2 1⁄2 minutes. We might come back to some of those other questions if that is OK. other questions if that's okay. Our next speaker is
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