Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to raise the issue of childcare again. I have spoken about this issue here for the past two years, specifically problems with ECCE-only providers, especially in smaller or more rural communities, and how providers who provide only this service are particularly vulnerable under funding models and so on. My specific issue today concerns baby rooms. Living in Glanmire, which is a large suburb where many people have come in from far and wide to work in pharma, the hospitals and so on, there is an acute shortage of baby rooms for children under 18 months. This is not just the case in Glanmire but right across the board. The regulation in this regard and the number of children who can be fitted into the one room mean it is difficult and onerous for many providers to provide this service. This is something I would like to flag here. I think a particular focus needs to be placed on these providers in the coming months.

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