Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste and the Minister mentioned core funding for childcare. However, neither mentioned the crisis created by the current core funding proposals. Since those proposals were published, 21 childcare providers have closed their doors. It is estimated by the Federation of Early Childhood Providers that 260 providers will close their doors by the end of next year. If this happens, it will mean 1,000 childcare providers will have closed their doors since 2017. That is an incredible situation. What is happening is reducing the options that parents have. It is also pushing up prices because there is less supply in the market. One provider I spoke to said that she remained open throughout the pandemic but that she has come to a decision to close the doors after 15 years because of Government mistreatment.

She said that it is nauseating to see big providers so lavishly boosted by the Government while smaller providers, which are the bedrock of our communities, are snubbed. Will the Minister reverse the damage done to small early childhood care and education, ECCE, providers in the State?

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