Seanad debates

Thursday, 29 May 2014

Adjournment Matters

Child Care Services Provision

2:20 pm

Photo of Caít KeaneCaít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I have spoken to him and the Minister for Health about this before. This is closing a crèche by e-mail. No parents have seen the report by Canavan and Byrne, only the board of management has seen it. Will the Minister ask for a copy of the report? What is in it? I visited the crèche and there is no reason it should close. The Child and Family Agency inspected it in August 2012 and there was no reason for it to close. As Senator Zappone said, it is due to close on 29 August. This must be halted and will not close without a fight.

Senator Zappone has outlined the benefits of child care, which I will not enumerate because time is limited. A parent has advised me she will have to quit her nursing job in the hospital. She starts at 8 a.m. and must be on the road by 6 a.m. Where would she find a crèche open at that time? Many feasibility studies have been done, but I am asking the Minister to ensure monetary and social issues are taken into consideration, for example the hospital may have to replace staff. The auditors charged the crèche €1,500 to audit its books, which it could have had audited for €1,000. Such things must be made easier.

Feasibility is about people, not just money. It is difficult enough for parents, particularly mothers as they mostly look after the children, to go out to work and leave their children anywhere. We should not make it more difficult to balance work and home care. Will the Minister meet them immediately? There will be a board meeting tomorrow. While the Minister will probably will not be able to attend, the date of 29 August is urgent. The Child and Family Agency has examined the crèche.

There is no reason for it to close. I have looked at the crèche and at the inspection. With regard to the monetary element, when I visited the hospital I noticed a lot of new build. I want the question asked and answered whether it will be moved. It is in a portacabin to allow a new build ambulatory care unit to go in there. If it is, I ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Minister for Health to get in touch with someone to get an inbuilt, purpose-built crèche in any new build in the hospital. I had one incorporated in South Dublin County Council 20 years ago and it is still there. It works well for the staff there. Happy staff are good staff and they are more productive. All these issues must be taken into account, including those with long commutes. I ask the Minister to do his best.

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