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

The issue I wanted to raise with the Taoiseach yesterday was one raised already very adequately by Deputy Micheál Martin regarding the concerns in the childcare sector caused by the crippling and prohibitive premium charges being imposed on childcare facilities. I just spoke to a childcare operator in my own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. She eventually got her policy renewed this morning at a cost increase of 166%. She is operating on a small and tight profit margin already. She cannot afford to pass on additional costs to the parents, who are under financial pressure, as we all know. I appeal to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to ensure that adequate supports are given to the childcare sector to make sure that we do not lose any existing places. As has been noted, there are great pressures on places in many counties in the eastern part of my own constituency, which is on the outer commuter belt of Dublin. The last thing we want to do is to lose childcare places. There cannot be additional costs for parents or for the private or community operators either.

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