Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The cost of childcare for many families is still exceptionally challenging, as I am well aware. As the Deputies know, we have seen significant investment over the past couple of years but we started from a low base. It is as simple as that. We are conscious of the need for investment not only to ensure that childcare is affordable but also that it is of a high quality. The latter point relates to what we are able to pay our great childcare providers and professionals.

I do not have any specific information on the facilities in Cavan and Monaghan but I will certainly look at that for the Deputy and get back to her if we have any details. I presume she is asking about the future appetite of providers. My understanding is that there is a great appetite for this, although people do not necessarily have to sign up to it. Ultimately, there will be great ease in administration from a provider's perspective and in the process of signing up children from a parent's perspective.

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