Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand why there is a push for employees to have 100% cover. However, as Senator Currie said, it is about striking a balance, particularly for small childcare providers. In order to open a room to provide childcare spaces for parents, employers have to meet staff to children ratios, therefore, they have to have cover. They do not have room to avoid making sure that there is staff cover in place. Presumably they will get it and, thankfully, there will be moves in that direction also.

For small childcare providers, there is the situation whereby they would have to provide 100% of the payment cover. In that regard, I appeal to the Minister of State to consider the idea of a rebate as put forward by the Local Jobs Alliance, which Senator Currie mentioned. In mandatory situations where cover is required, there should be a rebate when it is obvious and provable that cover had to be provided.

In starting off with 70% until everybody gets used to this measure, perhaps we could review this in a number of years and see how it is working. In the context of some very small employers having to absorb this as a costs, I again ask the Minister of State to consider the possibility of a rebate.