Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister stated her view that the majority of community crèches were working well financially, but my opinion differs. Many community crèches are held together on a shoestring and by sellotape and are living on the lifeline presented by the introduction of the affordable child care scheme. With the removal of community employment workers, who played an integral part in child care, many community crèches are facing closure. Giving them financial advice could be too late for some. They must address the question of whether they will be able to open their doors in September. The community child care sector is on its knees. What intervention can we make to resuscitate it?

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