Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is serious. A total of 7%, or one in every 14, of early learning and care providers for school-aged children will not reopen in September. This is a startling figure. The Government has failed to address the concerns of early childhood care providers regarding low pay and core funding. The failure not only impacts on providers but also on families who desperately need these places for them to survive and stay in the workplace. This is resulting in a 68%, almost 70%, of childcare providers being unsure out their business future. They cannot provide on thin air. They cannot provide when they are being regulated out of existence and not getting support.

The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, seems to be tone deaf about their needs and he is not engaging. He is more interested in every other kind of thing that he is bringing in here and is certainly not dealing with our most young and vulnerable children who need those supports and their parents who need to be in the workplace. The reality is that the sector is completely underfunded, with 68% of providers saying they are not sure about their future in September. They cannot continue trading at a loss. They cannot put on extra fees. They cannot fundraise in these hard times. It is a serious issue and I am asking the Tánaiste to sit down and engage with them. I ask the Minister to engage with them meaningfully.

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