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

Capacity is now our core challenge in early years. Four years ago when I became Minister, the challenge was staff pay, which remains a challenge. The challenge was also the cost of childcare for parents. We have done a lot to meet that. It is still too expensive for some parents but we have taken important steps. The challenge was the sustainability of providers. In year four, core funding will be €390 million. Core funding did not exist before I became a Minister. It has gone a significant way to meeting the sustainability challenges of providers.

Capacity is the challenge now. We are bringing forward the capital funding so we can build new services. We are paying our staff better so they can improve recruitment and retention in order that we can ensure that every room that is designed can be opened. We are working with the Department of housing to improve the planning regulations in respect of the design of new early years services in new estates and their delivery. Too often, they are part of the plan but are not actually delivered.

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