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A call has been made for a “breakthrough budget” for early years and childcare costs.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley said the issue is a “huge priority” for the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.

She described a “very engaged and engaging session” focused on early years, childcare and special education at the Fianna Fáil think-in event in Tullamore, Co Offaly on Monday.

“In early years and childcare, there was a very strong consensus and an agreement that, and it is the line that I am pursuing with Minister Jack Chambers, that this must be a breakthrough budget in terms of early years and childcare costs for parents,” she said.

“There is a huge priority being given to that by the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, and other elements that were discussed then were that those who work in early years and childcare that they would be supported in terms of the cost of their wages.

“Other elements would be the supports for providers, particularly in terms of the provision of additional places through the existing providers, or indeed the new state-led model, which we will be announcing in in the coming weeks.”

Pressed on what would be done for hard-pressed parents in terms of the cost of childcare, Ms Foley said they are “looking for the maximum”.

“I think we’ve always been very clear in the programme for government that over the lifetime of government we would work to the target of 200 euro a month, 50 euro a week for parents, and I do think this is the budget where we need to show a considerable breakthrough in achieving that,” she said.

“I’m conscious it is a lifetime of government commitment, but this is the opportunity we have now and I do want to say that Minister Jack Chambers and Taoiseach Micheal Martin have been very supportive in in acknowledging that, as far as they’re concerned, also childcare and must be given a particular priority.

“We are looking for the maximum that we can secure here for the benefit of parents, but there are other elements as well.

“Primarily we are looking for to reduce the cost for parents, but we are also looking at supports for workers.”