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

I thank the Deputies for their comments. I take the points that Deputy Sherlock is making on the differences in the costs of Early Childhood Ireland members and those who are not members and how the risk profile is not necessarily different. These are good questions which I will raise as part of the ongoing considerations.

On other issues, including the call from Deputy Rabbitte for an Oireachtas helpline, we need to get such a helpline set up so that there can be access to this information as this is a fast-moving situation. More information is coming in on insurance quotes that are being offered to as many crèches as possible. My overall objective is that there are no closures. In the very short-term, one of the things we have done is to provide a programme support payments of, on average, €1,500 to providers. We will make provision as to how that is determined. The formula for each crèche is the same formula we have used in the past for programme support payments, which is in respect of the number of children and whether they are in full or part-time childcare. It will differ from smaller to larger crèches. The payment will be made by 28 December and the providers will not have to do any more administration to get this payment.

I have also identified a sustainability service that Pobal also offers to ensure that facilities will not close. The not-for-profit element is certainly part of that, for which there is potentially additional funding.

On Deputy Boyd Barrett's point, I am hopeful that because of the things we are doing to support the providers in a difficult year, the cost rises across the board, insurance being part of those, will not escalate. We need to look at that, which I fully accept.

I take his point and that of Deputy Joan Collins on there being other kinds of not-for-profit models of insurance provision in other jurisdictions. I am going to feed those into the work on insurance, which is happening in the Department of Finance. We are looking for more data, particularly in the way that insurance premiums are rising, and will be feeding that data into the engagement with our colleagues. There is perhaps a better way for our sector compared with others.

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