David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for being here. I appreciate it. We all recall the terrible events of Storm Babet in Midleton on 18 October. Businesses, houses and roads were destroyed and millions of euro worth of damage was done.

An issue that has come up is the damage to crèches. At least two I know of have closed. One may not open at all; the other will not open until April or May. Well over 100 children are involved and now have no place to go. Parents have been on to me and my colleague, Deputy O’Connor, really distraught. They have taken what time off they can but there is no place available. There are solutions. I have contacted the childcare committee in County Cork. It is very good and proactive. I have contacted Tusla, which has not come back to me. There are a number of premises available but they need to be registered. This is an emergency. Some parents have told me they may have to give up work because they cannot continue. Others have taken unpaid leave. Many are young parents with mortgages and other expenses. Some parents have told me they have been quoted from €480 to €600 per week for childcare in the private sector. As staff in the crèche are getting other jobs, the whole thing is beginning to fall apart.

I ask the Minister to intervene directly in this regard and to talk to Tusla and the childcare committee. A number of premises have been identified in the area that could be used on a temporary basis. One is attached to a large childcare facility already. They have a room they can use but it needs to be registered. That takes time and time is what the parents do not have. This is extraordinarily urgent for them. The Minister can imagine trying to find a place for a two-year-old or a baby or after-school. No place is available. As people have to go to work, what do they do? It is very serious.

Many of these families also had their houses destroyed. They are not only dealing with getting their houses back in order. Some of the houses cannot be lived in. They are also trying to go to work and find a place for their child. Some have to travel long distances for childcare. The Minister and Department are the only ones that can intervene, bring everyone together and identify as a matter of urgency premises that could be used, even on a temporary basis. I know the standards and completely agree we should have high standards but this is an emergency. What are these parents and children to do if they cannot get childcare places?

This is linked to another issue, which is that many developers are building large schemes and are supposed to put in crèches. The crèche is the last thing they put in and then they walk away and forget about the crèche. I have been telling the local authorities to get them to build the crèches first and then build houses. At least there will be a crèche or childcare facility. This is critical across the country but where there is a difficulty in finding childcare places, especially in east Cork, and with Storm Babet on top of that closing down crèches for a long period, the Minister can understand the pressure and stress parents are under.

I am delighted the Minister is here. I ask him to intervene, along with the Department, to talk to Tusla and the childcare committee to identify the places that are there and see if we can put them to use to help these parents.

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