Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to raise the issue of childcare and the understanding regarding the forthcoming core funding changes in payments, concerns that have been raised around early childhood care and education, ECCE, funding and also awareness of the sustainability fund. In that regard, I ask that we have statements on childcare funding with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. It is important that this House has that debate and that we get an opportunity to express the concerns and hear from the Minister about issues regarding the childcare sector.

We need to consolidate the services that are in place and ensure that we hold on to those childcare provisions that are essential for the holistic development of the child and also in support of families. Also in that regard, however, we need to address ensuring that we have a capital fund to attract others into the area and into the childcare sector. We need to ensure that providers are supported as the employment regulation order, ERO, comes into being to safeguard and protect workers in the industry and the very dedicated childcare professionals who have a right to their rate of pay, and that it is coming very soon. We need to allay the fears of childcare providers but we also need to look at the capacity.

At the moment, under large-scale housing developments and under the previous housing schemes, once there are 75 units, childcare services must be put into the construction. However, many developers get to sideline that by saying there are a certain number of providers in an area. They get to set aside the obligation that was in place to ensure that we have childcare places and construction in the provision. It is really important that we get the Minister to act on that and put pressure on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure this is not allowed to be excused.

We know that childcare places are in very short supply. If the Minister does not address the concerns of the likes of the ECCE providers, they will continue to be in short supply and may be in even shorter supply in the future. Ensuring we maximise the construction of crèches and childcare facilities around the country is really important. I ask that we have a debate and statements on that issue in the House.