Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We are bringing forward €221 million per year in funding. This is a significant State investment, as everyone recognises. The bulk of that money is linked to the delivery of the ERO. We all know how poorly childcare professionals are paid. I see, Government sees and it is seen across the House the ERO as the means to deliver that. That money has to be contingent on the ERO. If we do not get the ERO, we cannot get the guarantee that the extra money the State is providing to services will go to childcare providers, give them the uplift they need and deserve and keep them in the sector so they do not continue to leave as they are leaving at the moment. The Government sees the ERO as essential to the delivery of that objective and that is why it is so closely linked with the provision of the majority of the core funding package.

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