John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Vacancy rates of 15 to 20% are now the norm, and many services, particularly in the preschool sector, were concerned that enrolments next September would be well down, forcing many services to close. This scheme will allow those services to instead ride out what are very trying times for all sectors of the economy.

While there are some high cost services that have argued that the rate of capitation should be higher, the majority of services contacting the Department since the announcement of the scheme have expressed their support it in strong terms.

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