Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the departmental officials for attending today. I wish to cover the costs to business, in particular that of insurance which was discussed already. Earlier the witnesses from Crann advised that the average insurance cost per facility was between €6,000 and €9,000 per annum with only one or two injury claims in a year - I do not know the extent of the claims. Those witnesses also highlighted that the insurance environment is now stunting childcare activity yet the premiums continue to rise. Has the Department considered any type of mutual insurance fund or bond and if not why not? There is obviously a monopoly in the market, and it should be on the radar.

I ask the officials to advise on some of the other costs that arise in business, particularly commercial leases, mortgage arrangements, rates and utility costs. I hope the Department is providing some dashboard particularly to the private operators which probably do not have the backup that the larger community ones do, in terms of having people with skill sets to renegotiate in this new environment with utility providers, mortgage providers and landlords.