Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is the local childcare committee that should be liaising directly with these childcare facilities. I will mention it directly to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. He was in Cork at the time the flooding happened, or immediately afterwards, and he has taken an interest in it. There is a fund for continuity of service. I ask the Deputies to ensure any affected childcare services have applied for a continuation of service funding under the force majeurerules and that they apply for the emergency business flooding schemes, which are open to voluntary organisations and non-profits and should be available to childcare providers as well.

I understand that childcare is vital to parents as it is something they need to go to work every day. This is the livelihood of the providers of these services. They are concerned they have stringent rules to meet in the normal course of events but they are now in an emergency situation. I do not think they will be treated any differently from a primary school or secondary school. What they are providing is a vital service. A range of grants are available to them. They can liaise with the local childcare committee. I will ask the Department to do as the Deputy has suggested and directly contact the childcare providers and the parents involved. I will also say it directly to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, with whom I deal very regularly on a personal basis.

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