Bacik calls on children's minister to become Donogh O'Malley of childcare

'Lack of radical vision' for early years care and education

Labour leader Ivana Bacik: 'We've relied far too much on religious institutions and the private sector to fill gaps when the State hasn't stepped in.' File picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

The leader of the Labour Party has called on her former student, Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman, to become the Donogh O'Malley of childcare.

Ivana Bacik has said the Government now needs to introduce a free model of care for younger children, similar to the rollout of free second-level education introduced by Mr O'Malley in the late 1960s.