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

The Minister’s figures are interesting. While it is very good that 96% of providers have signed up to the scheme, that still leaves 4% who have not. The figures the Minister gave me referred to approximately 9,000 places in Dublin City and in Cork and in Limerick, but there are another 12,000 places nationally and the relevant providers have refused to sign up to any scheme. Those providers are then free to push up the cost to parents. Regarding that small percentage of providers, desperate parents come to my clinic, and I am sure to other people’s clinics, who have no other option for alternative childcare provision in their areas. Those parents are left high and dry. If we are talking about 12,000 places, then we are talking about many desperate parents. I wish to find out where this leaves them and what supports the Minister will give them to ensure they do not drown under their childcare costs, particularly in the context of the current cost-of-living crisis. Those costs are being put up by providers who will not sign up to the scheme, because it is possible for providers to not sign up to any scheme.

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