Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have been watching proceedings from afar and listening in very attentively. I thank each and every one of our guests for their statements and contributions thus far. I recognise the fundamental role that childcare and childminding services play in our lives. Like Deputy Sherlock, I too have a young family - a two-year-old and a three-and-a-half-year-old - and as a working parent, I rely on childminding services. They are essential in terms of what and our local communities require.

The challenges we have heard about in the sector today, especially from family-run establishments, are concerning. I am sure all the members of this committee have expressed their support and advocacy for continued Government investment into this sector to address the current challenges and to ensure we can build a sustainable future for the sector. This is important. These sessions are an important avenue in trying to get the concerns of the witnesses' organisations built into a report from the committee and thereafter to engage with the Minister on that report.

I will try to not go over previous ground. I was very interested to listen to the federation's concerns regarding the different cost bases of different organisations. One reference was made to the capitation grants. I wish to focus on the witnesses' analysis of the anticipated impact of an increase in the standard capitation grant from €69 to €100 per child per week. What impact would an increase like that have on the quality of services in the sector? How would such a proposed increase in the capitation grant address the inflationary pressures being experienced and the increased burden of additional operational costs?