Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her detailed response. We all support the provision of additional childcare places. It is great that there is demand for such places and the refurbishment and upgrading of some facilities that have been in use for some time.

The Minister mentioned the €1 million grants. I spoke to her privately about a certain project. I had the privilege of approving €1 million when I was Minister with responsibility for children and youth affairs. I am thankful the initiative has been very successful. It is in a medium-sized town in my constituency. The facility has a capacity of almost 170. It is full to capacity. There are children attending on alternative days to try to reduce the waiting list. In the small town in question, there is a waiting list of 40 children who need to gain access to the services in the good childcare facility. The service providers had to open a second facility in another premises in the town, where nearly 40 children attend. This project, which I am sure is replicated throughout the country, has been very successful in providing childcare facilities. The community project to which I refer needs a very substantial increase in accommodation. The levels of grant aid available - €50,000 and €20,000 - are not nearly adequate enough to ensure the service providers can provide the facilities to meet the demand in their town and the rural catchment area. I hope that, after the Minister's consultation with the relevant stakeholders, there will be a substantial increase in the grant aid available for such facilities.

I spoke to the Minister privately and appreciate the fact that I had the opportunity to meet her. Might she have the opportunity to meet the people on the ground providing the services and note the pressure on them as they try to meet local demand? We might have a further meeting on that specific request.

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