Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. We are acutely aware of issues in the childcare sectors in recent years, including the cost of childcare to parents and staff not being paid at levels appropriate to their qualifications. I acknowledge that many services will be better off and welcome the uplift to 49 weeks instead of 38 weeks for degree staff. I know it is rolled out as part of the budget and will come on stream later this year. However, a few services have been in touch with Deputy Funchion's office to say they will be worse off. They have gone on to the ready reckoner, which is the online tool for services, to gauge the potential funding value for an individual service and found they will be worse off. The Minister has given a guarantee that they will not be. If they find they do not qualify for the core funding, can they engage with the Department to ensure they get the same level of funding as last year? The sessional services are particularly fearful that they will be worse off.

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