Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

The Minister of State is not living in the real world if he believes alternative child care services are available locally. In Ballyfermot, for instance, the area I know best, another crèche is under threat of closure for an unrelated reason. This will reduce further the number of spaces available in the area where there are already waiting lists in most cases. I do not know where students at Ballyfermot College of Further Education will be able to source local, affordable child care places. This gives a lie to the Minister of State's contention that students will be able to source child care places elsewhere. The proposed closure is a backward step.

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