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

We have had an extensive and valuable discussion in the House today on the issue of childcare. It is worth mentioning childminders in recognition that centre-based childcare is not the only method of childcare provision. Thousands of families across the country rely on childminders. We brought in the childminding action plan to provide an appropriate degree of regulation of that sector, recognising the important work being done, and to allow childminders use of the national childcare scheme, NCS, as well. Thus, parents using a childminder would be able to benefit from those State subventions to make the cost cheaper for them. That is an element that would help to increase capacity because having more diverse availability of childcare will help with the issue of capacity. In my final minute, I will talk in more detail about wider measures to improve capacity in centre-based services.

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