Seanad debates

Thursday, 29 May 2014

Adjournment Matters

Child Care Services Provision

2:30 pm

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. With regard to sustainability, strictly speaking, the Minister is not responsible for sustainability but the issue is rampant throughout the provision of child care places throughout the country. It may require more closures than in this instance. The Department must keep its eye on the issue. My comments emphasise that it is a good model because it is onsite in the workplace and I encourage the Minister to think about that in terms of the development of child care facilities in the future, including in the context of his policies.

One of the Minister's final points was that the South Dublin County Childcare Committee has established that there are sufficient places to accommodate the children if the closure proceeds. While that may be the case in principle and strictly speaking, the parents have lined up their children for early year places next year and, given that the closure will happen prior to that, if children are not the list they will not receive the early years care. In fact, that point may not be true in the case of these particular children.

I take the point that the Minister cannot intervene. The Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, said that she cannot intervene because it is against legislation and I do not know whether there is legislation in this case but some form of effort from the Minister to offer support could be useful so that management engages with parents.

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