Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

On 18 May, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, welcomed that 92% of early learning and care and school age childcare providers had signed up to the transition fund which would allow for a freeze of parental fees. That means that 8% of providers have not signed up to it. We do not know how many childcare places those 8% represent. It means that many are forcing parents to pay increased fees. Some in my constituency have nowhere else to go. It is the only childcare provider in the area. Some working parents are paying an extra €500 a month. Can we establish how many childcare places 8% of providers represent? What will we do to alleviate the hardship for parents who are being forced into this situation when we do not have a proper universal childcare system?

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