Fine Gael promise 100 state run childcare facilities

Taoiseach visits Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal in whistle-stop tour of Ulster counties.

Fine Gael have said they will invest in 24,000 public places by setting up 100 state run childcare facilities across Ireland.

Taoiseach and party leader Simon Harris made the announcement when visiting Cavan Town earlier today as part of a whistle-stop tour to back local candidates- Cllrs TP O'Reilly and Carmel Brady- before heading towards Monaghan and later Donegal.

“We are going to invest in 24,000 public places. We're going to set up 100 state run childcare facilities,” he stated.

Regarding that private providers are “do a great job”, he feels: “I'm not sure they're ever going to be able to meet the supply on their own. I think the state has to get more involved.”

Earlier Fine Gael announced a €40 billion plan to deliver 303,000 new homes by 2030, with a target of 60,000 per year by the end of that period.

They have also pledged to increase and extend schemes for first time buyers by raising the relief under Help to Buy scheme to €40,000- a 33% increase since the last adjustment in 2020- and by extending to cover first-time buyers of second-hand homes.

Both schemes will be continued for a further five years.

The party are hopeful of securing two seats in the next election.

The Taoiseach told the Celt that Fine Gael have a “really strong ticket” in Cavan-Monaghan, and is glad to have Minister Humphreys “pounding the pavements” with their General Election candidates- Cllrs TP O'Reilly, Carmel Brady, and David Maxwell in Monaghan.

“We're playing for two seats here in Cavan-Monaghan, let me be very clear about that.”

He concludes by saying while Minister Humphrey's past vote was impressive and “well-earned from her hard work, there is also a lot of people who went out in the local elections and did vote for Fine Gael in Cavan and in Monaghan. I think between those realities, the incredible credentials of our new candidates, and indeed Heather's support in this election, I'm cautiously optimistic.”