Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I thank the Deputies for raising the issue. A number of options have been proposed, involving the HSE, the Child and Family Agency and my Department. All possible options are being explored. There have been a number of high level meetings and these will continue until resolution can be found. I am acutely aware that access to affordable, quality child care can be a significant barrier to many low income and disadvantaged families availing of work opportunities. I have heard from the Deputies that it is the case in this area. This year, my Department is providing investment totalling more than €260 million to support the programmes.

I attach a significant priority to child and family services, including the provision of early years services, which we are discussing. I hope the difficulties at the Darndale-Belcamp centre can be satisfactorily resolved. All the parties mentioned must work to resolve the difficulties in a constructive and proportionate manner. I am very conscious of the point Deputy Ellis made regarding the health services and the manner in which commitments may not have been fulfilled as projected.

As a first step, I have arranged for a meeting of the funding agencies, following which I expect there will be an early meeting with the centre to explore on a constructive basis all options for achieving a sustainable approach to the operations at the centre. I ask all parties to work with this process, as indicated by my predecessor, to use whatever space can be provided to identify constructive solutions, of which we have had some today, which will continue to deliver a service to young children and their parents in the Darndale-Belcamp area. I undertake to keep in close contact with the Deputies and others on the issue.

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