SDLP Councillor Martin Kearney has welcomed unanimous support for free childcare expressed by Mid-Ulster Council this week.
The SDLP motion expressed the need for a universal childcare model as a way to boost our economy and reflect similar moves made in England and Scotland.
Cllr Kearney said: “I am extremely proud that last night saw unanimous support in Mid-Ulster Council for the SDLP free childcare initiative.
“It is rare that we get consensus in politics here and to get it over such an important issue shows that progressive politics can prevail.
“There are reasons why women are often in lower paid jobs and inadequate childcare one of them.
“It is so expensive for families to use formal childcare settings that the Fawcett Society found women are far more likely to work in part time jobs or leave work entirely.
“By failing to address this issue we are effectively removing a large pool of skilled workers from our economy. It is unfair and it is uneconomical.
“The cost of childcare must be reduced so we can begin to build real equity in the workplace and enable more women to remain in highly skilled positions.
“Nicola Sturgeon has recently committed to 30 hours of free childcare in Scotland and last night Mid-Ulster Council has shown the appetite for it here.
“Free childcare is an important part of the SDLPs pro-active and constructive strategy to build our economy that must also include resisting the removal of Tax Credits, investment in our education and infrastructure, power over corporation tax, the reduction of Tourism VAT and tackling low wages through the introduction of the true living wage.”
