Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The other area I wish to ask about is childcare costs. I recently met a young family in Newbridge, County Kildare, who are paying €1,400 per month. The Minister will know, as it is often referenced in this House, that this is a second mortgage. However, it is obviously not just in Newbridge that those are the costs of childcare; it is throughout the State. Linked to those costs are the turnover in staff where the average turnover is 25% of those working in the sector. Many of them quote the low pay they are receiving at present. There is a huge cost for them. Associated with that is the issue of the many regional childcare providers that have delays with payments from the Department, which are causing them headaches and issues about staying open. Obviously, there are then the increased overhead costs that many of these childcare providers, particularly in rural areas, have faced. Will the Government address any of that to try to reduce childcare costs for parents while also ensuring providers will stay open?

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