Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. It is very helpful to have the documents and the survey compiled by the Association of Childcare Professionals.

My colleague, Senator Sherlock, has raised the issue of unforeseen consequences following the introduction of the national childcare scheme in 2019 and this move, as clearly expressed by the witnesses, from a child-centred scheme to a work activation model plus the move from enrolment to hourly attendance as a basis for the scheme. Clearly, the scheme is having detrimental consequences for children. In particular, the scheme has enhanced inequality and not equality of access for children, which is of real concern. I know many community childcare providers were outside of Leinster House earlier today.

There have been questions about how to change and address this huge problem. The witnesses have called for increased supports on a targeted basis. The main ask is for a return to targeted schemes and for adequate supports to be put in place, particularly for children from a disadvantaged background. Has the Department moved to restore the targeted supports?

In advance of the budget, the witnesses have clearly highlighted the problems and emphasised that not just one area is affected but areas located outside of Dublin. As other have said, it is great to hear from childcare providers who work in Dublin 8 and outside of Dublin so we know that this is a much bigger issue. Not just one community or one group of children are affected but more than 5,000 children nationally.

We must decide what we can do, as a committee, to address these matters. I can see witnesses shaking their heads so there must have been no move made by the Department.

What does this situation say about childcare provision more broadly? We have spoken about this aspect with Mr. Darragh O'Connor from SIPTU. It is deeply frustrating to see that this situation is a consequence of the piecemeal provision of childcare, early years education and school age child care. We have never had joined-up thinking and a coherent vision for early years education, after-school provision and the out-of-school supports that children require in order to enhance children's rights.