Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, I want to thank my colleague, Deputy Funchion, for all the work she has done on childcare, and for tabling these solid proposals. The Minister will know that we are often accused of not having the solutions or the answers. Yet, time and again the solutions are put forward to the Minister around what we need to do in childcare. The Minister needs to listen to parents and the childcare providers, particularly those in rural areas.

I am very concerned about the core funding model the Minister put forward. I am concerned particularly for the smaller providers and for those operating the early childhood care and education, ECCE, services. Some of them are in danger of closing down, particularly in the more rural areas. I would ask the Minister to look at that again and to consult those providers to get that right.

We have put forward substantial proposals time and again and we do not do it just for the sake of it.

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The Minister has a key role now when we are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. In terms of escalating inflation, we see the costs of childcare for parents. Even looking at it from an economic point of view, however, the Minister knows all the studies that have been done right across the globe in terms of why we need to invest in childcare. One of the ways we can protect or insulate ourselves somewhat from the recession that may follow this and the cost-of-living crisis is by investing properly, once and for all, in childcare in order that we get that model right.

We also need to look after the childcare providers, particularly the smaller ones in rural areas that served us during the pandemic and otherwise. I spoke to one provider in my local area who has not increased prices for seven years and now faces the costs of food bills, water rates, energy bills and all of that. We need to ensure that they stay open in communities and can provide for childcare into the future.

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