The Budget will contain €1.2 billion worth of investment in childcare, the Green Party leader has said.
Roderic O’Gorman said he had “done most of the heavy lifting” in increasing investment for early years childcare and education, saying it will have doubled over his time as Minister for Children.
Mr O’Gorman was speaking to reporters at the Green think-in in Dublin, where he said a key part of the party’s manifesto for the general election will be measures on reducing childcare costs.
He also outlined a vision for the future, adding that the State needs to “step in” and provide childcare directly through a public model.
Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris has also said his party will start a consultation process on setting up a public childcare and early education service.
Asked on Monday if Fine Gael was taking the Green Party’s policies, Mr O’Gorman said: “I have fought over four budgets now to grow the budget for for early years (childcare and education) in our country.
“When I became minister, it was €638 million per year, in Budget 2025 it’ll be over €1.2 billion.
“So I’ve doubled it in the course of of four years.
“Obviously a Budget is done across all parties but I felt that I’ve done most of the heavy lifting for that that extra investment myself.”
Mr O’Gorman said he was “glad to see the Taoiseach endorsing our idea” of greater State involvement in early year’s childcare and education.
Pressed on whether he would characterise the proposal as a Green Party idea and not a Fine Gael one, he said: “Yeah, it’s a Green idea.”
In addition, Mr O’Gorman set out the party’s proposal to extend free public transport from the under-fives to the under-nines.
“Cost should never be a barrier towards families using public transport and we think it’s really important that we develop those positive habits of children using public transport and making it more affordable by making it free for under nines.”
The Green leader also reiterated his call for a “baby boost proposal” which would see a quadruple child benefit payment of €560 in the first month after birth.
He said he was making the proposals in advance of the Budget on October 1st, while noting that the upcoming general election is “foremost on everybody’s mind”.
On the subject of the timing for the poll, Mr O’Gorman said it was still his desire to see the Government go full term so that legislation like the Marine Planning Bill and the deferment of maternity leave for women who were seriously ill could be passed.
He also said a “penalising tax has to be put in place” to discourage the hoarding of land which could be used for residential development.
Asked if he had concerns that the Taoiseach would announce an earlier election without consulting him, Mr O’Gorman said: “I would expect to be consulted as we’ve had a Government that has worked well through open engagement, particularly at a leadership level.
“Obviously, the Constitution is clear, it’s a matter ultimately for the Taoiseach, but I would expect to be consulted in terms of a final date but those conversations haven’t happened yet.”
Mr O’Gorman also defended recent comments where he said he would prioritise Labour and the Social Democrats in Government formation talks, over current coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
He said engaging with “like-minded” parties would give the Greens the “strongest position” to get its policies implemented.
However, he said that the current Coalition was a “good Government” and added: “I remain open to talking and working with all parties.”
Elsewhere, Mr O’Gorman said the party’s political opponents have made it out to be “the bogeyman for a whole range of issues”, adding that it had learned the importance of clear communication of what it has achieved.
He said he would be highlighting to voters that the Green Party had exceeded targets for the national retrofit scheme, delivered a 20 per cent cut in public transport costs, and reduced VAT and planning permission requirements on solar panels for houses.
