Fine Gael has promised an additional eight weeks of paid parental leave as part of a package of childcare measures if the party is returned to office.

Among the highlights of the plan unveiled today by Minister for Children James Reilly are:

· An additional eight weeks’ paid leave by 2021, to be taken in the child’s first year by either parent

· A €2,000 annual subsidy for children aged nine months to three years in childcare facilities

· Free dental care for Under-6s

· Smaller class sizes - from 27:1 to 18:1

· New afterschool care options in school buildings

· New in-school speech and language service

Child protection legislation

Mr Reilly said that since going into Government in 2011, Fine Gael had prioritised children and their welfare through the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, child protection legislation, free GP care for under-6s and a second free pre-school year.

“Now, we want to build on this progress. As we keep the recovery going, Fine Gael will target investment in the early years, those crucial first five years in a child’s life.

“Additional parental leave, affordable childcare and smaller classrooms underpin Fine Gael’s long-term economic plan, along with targeted investment,” he said.

Fine Gael wanted to give parents more quality time with their children and that was why the party planned to provide an additional eight weeks’ parental leave, to be taken by either parent in the first year of the child’s life, he continued.

‘More affordable’

“We also want to make childcare more affordable for working families. We’ll do this by providing a €2,000 annual subsidy for children aged 9 months to 36 months who are attending childcare facilities.

“We are also committed to free dental care for under-6s and new in-school speech and language services in primary schools to support young children early.

“Fianna Fáil has no policy to secure the future of our children. They fought the introduction of free GP care for children, yet 225,969 children have been registered by their parents to avail of this service.

“Fianna Fáil’s childcare policy is based on tax credits, despite knowing this will just drive up costs for parents,” said Mr Reilly.

He said through prioritising early investment in children, Ireland would gain talent in the long term as giving children the best possible start meant they will become more independent, healthier and wealthier later in their lives.

“This is why Fine Gael, as the only party with a Long Term Economic Plan to keep the recovery going, has made investing in services one of the essential three steps in that plan,” he said.