By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA
Simon Harris is expected to announce a proposal to set up a public childcare system during an address to his Fine Gael party on Wednesday.
Childcare and housing will be among the topics under discussion at the Fine Gael think-in being held in Co Offaly over the next two days.
The Taoiseach, who has hinted previously he was considering such plans, is expected to confirm he is working with his party colleagues on proposals to build a publicly-funded early learning and childcare offering, which will form part of the education system.
Mr Harris is expected to set out an aim to create an affordable, accessible model that will reduce the reliance on the private sector.
Childcare is expected to be an area of focus for political parties ahead of the general election, as parents struggle to find childcare places and early-education providers grapple with increasing costs.
On Monday, Green Party leader and Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman said he believes the State “needs to be taking an even greater role” in childcare.
He said his party would make two years of free early childhood care and education (ECCE) a legal right.
Asked if a public childcare model would be part of the Green Party election manifesto, Mr O’Gorman told RTÉ Radio that the next few years should be about “delivering extra capacity in areas that need it”.
More than 70 Fine Gael politicians and general election candidates are to meet in Tullamore on Wednesday and Thursday.
Fine Gael will confirm it has chosen 47 candidates across 30 constituencies, 16 of whom are women or 34 per cent of their candidates – short of the required 40 per cent gender quota.
The party has a high number of experienced TDs who have announced they are stepping down: of the 26 TDs across the Dáil who have announced they will not contest the next general election, 15 are from Fine Gael.
There are 23 Fine Gael candidates running for the first time, six of whom have never ran for public office before.
The party has reportedly set September as a deadline for selecting all its candidates, fuelling rumours that leader Mr Harris is gearing up for an election before the end of the year.
Mr Harris is expected to tell delegates that the party will offer “a team of experience and new energy” at the next election.
It is expected An Taoiseach will focus on housing, migration and cost of living in his opening address to party members.
He is also expected to outline Fine Gael’s priorities in Budget 2025, which include boosting homeownership, cutting the cost of raising a family through reduced taxes and supports for education costs, supports for businesses, and investing in disability services to help children get access to assessment of needs and school places.
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