Fianna Fáil is calling for paid maternity leave to be extended to a full year by 2019.

The party has published a document today entitled 'Investing in Tomorrow' and is calling for greater standards in childcare.

It wants more supports for parents availing of childcare and to make the service more affordable.

Children's spokesperson for Fianna Fail, Robert Troy says the Children's Minister should secure an increase in her budget and not agree to cutbacks:

Mr. Troy also says "The government has already committed to increasing that and they have said that they would like to see a Scandanavian model. Now we all are fully aware that we can't achieve 0.07% of GDP anytime soon... but what we need to see is that incrementaly increased year on year and I'd be calling on the Minister to make sure that she increases the budget to this area going forward." 

The plan is also proposing to expand and increase inspection and registration and gradually roll out a €15m Professional Early Childhood Training Fund.  

The document sets out how a second full free pre-school year for all children with special educational needs should be allocated.