Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure if I contributed to the Second Stage debate on this Bill. However, I have spoken previously to the Minister about this issue. There is a case to be answered in respect of the points made by Deputy Fleming, particularly when it comes to the ECCE aspect of child care facilities operated in the community and private sectors. As I understand it, what is being proposed is that an exemption from rates be granted in respect of community-based facilities which provide child care services, including the ECCE year, which is a State sponsored service delivered via the community and private sectors. It is difficult to sustain the argument that one can treat both differently. I could be convinced where a child care service is operating the full range of options to parents, including after-school services, pre-ECCE year child care services, creche facilities and so on, but when it comes to comparing like with like, in terms of the delivery of the State scheme, we are in difficult territory. I would urge the Minister of State to give serious consideration to these amendments. There are communities that are served exclusively by the community sector, in respect of which this will not be an issue, but there are other communities that are served by the community and commercial sector and it would not be fair to put one community at a competitive disadvantage over the other. That is the issue that arises.

A service provider who has complied with the planning requirements and meets all of the legal obligations with regard to staff, schedules and so on who is, effectively, competing with a community-based service, should be competing on a level playing pitch. Rates is one of the issues that comes into the equation in terms of that level playing pitch. This reminds me of the situation that existed previously with regard to sports club facilities, part of which were exempted from rates because they were not commercial while the other part was liable for rates. It should be possible for commercial providers to have facilities used by them for the purpose of the ECCE year exempted from rates. Perhaps rather than divide the committee on the issue today the Minister of State will undertake to come back to us on it on Report Stage.