THE MINISTER FOR Health Leo Varadkar has said the cost of childcare will be an election issue.
Speaking on RTE’s Claire Byrne Live, he said that the government “would not rule out” tax breaks for parents, but said there would have to be caution exercised around any new initiative.
He said that government have made improvements by reversing cuts to child benefit, stating that parents get 50% more than they do in Northern Ireland and the UK.
The health minister admitted that it was a “very small step in the right direction”.
Varadkar said there is a trend in Ireland to make direct payments to families, rather than services, but this could perhaps be looked at.
