Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This week, early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme providers were again protesting outside Leinster House. They have committed to protesting again in the future if needs be. They have consistently highlighted the plight of smaller providers with regard to the funding received by all childcare providers. They do not dispute the overall Government package provided for this sector but are asking for a recalibration of that funding. Larger providers seem to be benefiting far more than ECCE scheme-only providers. Contracts are due to be sent out in early August. We ask that they be looked at ahead of that time to ensure that a fairer share of that money gets around, with a particular focus on the ECCE scheme providers who are being short-changed at the moment.

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