Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My questions are the same as Deputy Carey's question. It is a hugely important issue in each constituency, as the Taoiseach is aware. The early childhood care and education programme was introduced in 2010 at €64.50 capitation grant per week per child. By 2018 it had increased to €69, where it stands today. If capitation had kept pace with inflation, it should be at €76 per child. The approach has been to leave capitation where it has been for years and early years service providers are absorbing the rise in inflation. This means that in many cases early years providers are, effectively, subsidising their businesses at a personal cost. They have not had an increase in capitation in four years. It must be borne in mind that this is an increasingly expensive essential public service that has been delivered by private business owners. There must be fairness in the funding levels. Will the Government increase the ECCE capitation from €69 per week to €76 per week per child, with immediate effect, before some of these crèches see closures?

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