Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

However, the group feels this will push fees up, making the service too expensive for local parents. Certainly, on the basis of projected 2009 costs the group provided to Pobal, its unit cost per place would be €260, despite having no rental costs, which would potentially make them the most costly service in the scheme. To date, the group has received 50% of its 2009 CCSS approval amount to bring it up to its proposed closing date.

Fingal county child care committee has agreed to go back to the group to discuss the new options it may have under a combination of the new free preschool year in early childhood care and education, ECCE, which will be administered under the auspices of my office and the CCSS. It is my hope the additional support that may be available to the group under the ECCE scheme will help it become sustainable. The child care directorate of my office will give consideration to any proposals that may be put forward to assist this service to remain in operation.

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