Results 1-11 of 11 for segment:8908015 in 'Dáil debates'
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Bríd Smith: I argue the national childcare scheme is not fit for purpose. It does not fit the demand and it does not fit the need we have in this country. Parents will say to us it is the most convoluted, confusing and unfair system. I will give one instance, and I am picking up on a thing that comes to my attention regularly. Parents are penalised for wanting to spend more time with their children,...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is incorrect in saying so many childcare providers are leaving the system. We saw an increase in the overall provision of childcare providers last year and we saw the lowest number of them leaving the system than in the previous five years. Second, the number of children who benefit from the NCS has doubled during my term of office. That does not suggest that parents are unhappy...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Bríd Smith: I am afraid that in my experience, and a lot of Deputies have spoken about it in different ways tonight, the mishmash of services we have are not keeping sufficiently on top of the demand for childcare. A lot of providers are feeling pretty desperate about the sort of administration challenges they face. The reason I asked the question about the provision of a national publicly-funded and...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Roderic O'Gorman: I absolutely agree we are not spending enough on early years but there is a reason for that. That is because the State only started to invest in childcare in 2008-2009 when the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme was first set up. Prior to that, the State stepped away entirely from the early years sector. When the Deputy compares us with Iceland and Sweden, she is comparing us...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Marian Harkin: I thank the Minister and want to move on to the next question.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Roderic O'Gorman: To conclude, some of that may well be considered an element of public provision as well.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Marian Harkin: Minister, please. The time is up.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Childcare Services
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Bríd Smith: 92. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will establish a publicly owned childcare service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19266/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Bríd Smith: I hope this will expand on the conversation we have just had. Will the Minister and his Department establish a national, publicly-run, funded and owned childcare service?
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)
Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. Reform of the early learning and childcare sector is included in the programme for Government, bringing together the best of community and private provision and the development of a new funding model to ensure an affordable, accessible, sustainable and high-quality sector. 9 o’clock To address pressures on parents, providers and professionals, I have always...