SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin
Ms McLaughlin was speaking at the SDLP Conference on Saturday.
She is bringing forward a policy paper ‘A Childcare Guarantee’ in the coming weeks.
Foyle MLA Ms McLaughlin said: “After a long campaign from parents and community activists we have finally begun to make some progress when it comes to childcare costs.
“While the recent intervention by the Department of Education after work from the SDLP and others at Westminster is welcome, it still goes nowhere near far enough to getting families the support that they need and it’s important that we continue the current momentum to secure the change necessary.
“Far too many talented people, particularly women, are being forced out of the workforce because childcare costs make it impossible for them to work.
“This not only has a significant impact on their career aspirations and happiness, but deprives our economy of their contributions and all the benefits that brings.
“In the coming weeks I will be publishing a paper outlining the SDLP’s proposals to cut childcare costs in half by 2030.
“We believe that providing families with a certain number of free hours of childcare is unworkable and instead we must see a model that invests in childcare providers with increased pay and qualifications for workers, alongside capped costs for parents.
“There can be no justification for childcare being unaffordable in the North when other European countries and the South have made significant progress.
“We will continue to work across this island and at all levels of government until we reach the point where childcare is affordable and accessible to every family.”
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