James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department is in regular contact with the providers' organisation on this matter. There was considerable consultation before the plan was executed and announced. It is an ongoing and dynamic situation. People and providers will decide where they would like to set up. Others may decide to expand. We live in a market economy and competition laws apply. We would like to support those who are already engaged in providing these services expand but, equally, we will encourage new people to enter the market where services are not currently being provided. We also must bear in mind that there will be other opportunities as a result of the increased provision for the community child care subvention programme. There will also be opportunities perhaps to use school facilities after school hours because teachers will not be providing the care. It will be provided by preschool child care givers who have a specific set of skills. We want to make it clear in those settings that the child does not think he or she is still at school. It needs to be a very different experience.

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