The State should be stepping in to directly provide childcare in areas of high demand, the Children's Minister has said.
Roderic O'Gorman said the Green Party manifesto in the next general election would include plans for State-run crèches in areas where there was a lack of places.
Speaking from the Green Party think-in which gets underway today, he told Newstalk Breakfast there needs to be a focus around capacity.
"I've had a track record over the last two years of halving the cost of childcare for most parents," he said.
"But I actually think a new step is needed now and that step is, in areas where there aren't enough spaces [or] there aren't enough services, the State should step in and directly provide childcare alongside the private and community providers.
"The focus now needs to be on capacity, the focus needs to be on the delivery of additional places in areas of high pressure."
'Key party policy'
Minister O'Gorman said there is "no point offering a parent very affordable childcare if they actually can't get a place in a service".
"I think the State needs to be stepping in and directly providing public childcare in areas where there's insufficient spaces right now," he said.
"That'll be a key party policy in our manifesto in the upcoming general election."
'Strong policies'
Minister O'Gorman said while there have been "tensions" in the coalition government "by and large this Government has worked well over four years".
"I believe it was our presence in Government that has delivered those strong policies on achieving cuts in our carbon emissions [and] in terms of cutting the cost of public transport.
"Every week 100 homes are getting solar panels on their roofs because of investment that the Green Party's put in.
"We got the cost of the VAT removed from solar panels".
Minister O'Gorman added that he does not know when the election will be but "would like us to run full-term".
