Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I had engaged with Social Enterprise Ireland ahead of Sinn Féin's policy and it had spoken about a pilot of €20,000 that would allow it to do a feasibility study which would identify community centres and community enterprise centres across Ireland. For €20,000, it is not a lot. I think doing that job of work of identifying spaces where childcare could be incorporated would be really worthwhile because when they are in a shared space, it keeps costs down, rent is shared and electricity is shared. It makes a difference, particularly in rural communities where it has not been viable for a private provider to step in. We could look at the social enterprise model in filling those gaps that exist. You are using buildings that are there and that are underused, bringing them back into life and then providing a service in a community where that service otherwise might not exist. Spraoi agus Spórt, Carndonagh, is a really good example of this. It is an award-winning social enterprise model. If the Minister is not aware of it, I ask him to look at it in the context of childcare.

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