Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I acknowledge the level of investment in the Department of children in the years since its establishment in 2011. I concur with many of the comments made by previous speakers on this important sector. Having engaged with parents, providers and SIPTU over the years, I welcome the additional funding, JLC process and employment regulation orders that have been established to put support under the sector. It is hugely important that we provide minimum rates of pay and additional funding of up to €45 million in a full year. That will be of benefit.

I refer to those providers not under the core funding model, including those which were under it and then left. Some parents do not have a choice; they were in that care system or there was no alternative. Therefore, they are paying the full whack, which could be the equivalent of a mortgage payment, a significant amount of money. Could any support be put in place for parents, be it a tax allowance or whatever, in the forthcoming budget? Those parents would rather be in the core funding model and have the benefit of a reduction in fees, but they are not in it because there are no alternatives in certain areas. I have come across this in Galway city. Such parents are put to the pin of their collar and are most likely paying mortgages and significant childcare fees. Something like a tax allowance would benefit those parents.