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

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive and very positive response. It would be a great Christmas present for these parents if they were to have a childcare or after-school place for their baby or child before Christmas. That would be great. As the Minister has acknowledged, this situation is urgent. It is a number of weeks since the flooding happened and the childcare facilities were destroyed.

I acknowledge the endeavours being made by other childcare providers in the area to identify premises and expand their services to look after the parents and children impacted by the floods. I know of at least two large providers that are working hard to achieve this. They need the co-operation of Tusla and the childcare committee and they need the support of the Minister. I am delighted he has acknowledged that this morning and committed to doing what he can to make it happen.

I am really impressed that the Minister has put his finger on the bigger point, which is the need for more childcare premises to be built, and built to plan rather than being built as a house and then flipped. That is hugely important. I am a bit more hopeful now that things will happen. We will, of course, be monitoring the situation closely.

As I said, I contacted Tusla and it did not get back to me. That is not important. The important thing is that the agency is working with the childcare committee and the other providers that have premises available. I acknowledge the Minister's point that premises must be safe. The childcare providers I am aware of that are trying to expand into these other areas would not operate in dangerous premises. They are working hard to make the premises safe and available for the parents who are in dire need. Some of those parents may have to give up their work if they do not find a place to mind their children, with all the consequential financial impact that will have. They are really caught and they really need the support of the Minister. I thank him and his Department for the response this morning.

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