Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raised the matter when the scheme was announced. At the time I highlighted the unfair and inequitable criteria set out in the scheme, as a result of which 70% of child care providers are ineligible to apply for the scheme. Regardless of whether we like it, 70% of child care providers are private and for profit. Some of the schemes are small and do not make large-scale profits but provide a service in communities where the State does not.

The Minister alluded to the State’s responsibility to support and protect previous investment. We also need to support and protect investment made by the private sector. Private sector child care services availed of large-scale capital grants and they need the support of capital grant schemes. The Minister might not have to hand the information on the uptake of the scheme to date, but perhaps he could forward it. I was informed that only 60 applications had been submitted at the end of April 2014, which appears to be very low.

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