Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The projects and groups that brought this issue to my attention will be interested in the Minister's reply as there are some assurances in it. Nobody denies the need for affordable childcare services for parents, but the reality is that people on special community employment schemes availing of childcare or a community aftercare services are primarily lone parents, some of whom are extremely vulnerable, have mental health or addiction issues and require that support. While it might not be full-time, it appears that they are not getting the childcare support they had been getting. There are significant concerns that their progress and recovery to make themselves more eligible for employment will be affected because they are not able to attend in the way they did because their childcare hours have been reduced.

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