Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Notwithstanding those figures, does the Minister acknowledge that fact that more and more providers now are not able to provide services because there is a recruitment of staff issue? I am aware of one situation in my own neck of the woods in north Cork. One provider contacted me to say she simply cannot hire additional staff and that then has a knock-on effect. The effect is reduced ECCE hours as a consequence of that. We also note the fact that in Dublin's north-east inner city, there is a serious issue with regard to the lack of availability of early years education. This has been highlighted by the Young People at Risk subgroup of the north-east inner city task force. It continuously highlights the fact that there are a serious lack of preschool places in Dublin's north-east inner city. This is also it is reflective of my own neck of the woods in Cork, however. I am sure it is happening throughout the country.

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