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

The measures I have sought to introduce are to make provision for providers, make provision for childcare professionals and make provision for parents. It is important that all three are provided for in the measures the Government brings forward because, ultimately, looking after all those will ensure they can better look after our children. The Deputy is absolutely right about the pressure on capacity. When we introduced core funding, we saw a significant growth in capacity. Services responded to that. They added extra rooms.

We are bringing forward capital proposals. We will be bringing forward €20 million for capital expansion next year and a further €40 million the following year. We are working with planning authorities so that where a childcare facility is a condition of planning permission, it is actually delivered. I am not sure what the situation is in Mayo but I know of a few carcass buildings around the place that should be childcare facilities but that was never delivered. The final point is childminders. Bringing childminders within the national childcare scheme will significantly increase capacity as well.

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