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

The tack has changed because in the past two years the Minister enabled all service providers to avail of the capital grants scheme, which he confirmed himself a few moments ago. One could ask why there has been a big change. Why is the Minister leaving 70% of child care providers out in the cold? That is what is happening. Given that there are more than 4,000 child care providers nationally, the figure provided by the Minister of 200 applications is quite low.

I have been told that Pobal has been encouraging private sector providers to submit an application under strand two to see how it goes case by case. It is either open to the for-profit sector or it is not. What way is that to conduct business if Pobal is suggesting people to submit applications, see how it goes and that it will adjudicate case by case? I accept the budget is restricted. I did not ask the Minister to make additional money available. I asked him to make the scheme fair and equitable for all.

If 70% of the scheme is left out in the cold, it is not fair to the private providers who have stepped in where the State has not provided child care facilities.

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