Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I might not take the full ten minutes, but I have a number of questions. I thank the witnesses for their presentation and for all the work that has been done. It has been a challenging time for everyone in all Departments and for all people involved in this area. I have a question about the development of childcare generally. In other countries, big employers in particular are extremely supportive of their employees in providing childcare facilities. Not far from where I live in Cork city there is University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology, Apple and Cork University Hospital all of which are big employers. I am not sure about the childcare facilities available in those places.

Is it time to look at this issue and to work with major employers, such as the hospitals, in order to provide, in addition to other supports for staff, childcare supports close to their facilities? Has the Department looked at that? It is being done in other countries. Have we ever thought of looking at that area, particularly in the context of people working in the healthcare sector in very large hospitals?