Joe Conway (Independent)

I compliment our Sinn Féin colleagues in giving some oxygen to this much-pressed issue of childcare. A lot of the comments to date in this debate have been on the macro question. I have consulted my own resource team, notably my son and daughter-in-law and their 11-month-old daughter. We came up with some micro suggestions. I will instance the first problem that they identified. Parents currently face severe uncertainty and stress due to the scarcity of early childcare places. It is self-evident. Many of them have to apply to dozens of providers and often receive confirmation only weeks before the care is needed. This makes it nearly impossible for families to plan return-to-work dates or manage financial and logistical arrangements. The suggested reforms are as follows: first, to introduce a national childcare placement system or centralised waiting list database to increase transparency around availability; second, to require providers to confirm or release places at least three months in advance of the start date; and third, to provide regional and capacity planning and forecasting to enable the Government to proactively expand places in areas where shortages are most acute.

Another reform that is needed involves identifying and guaranteeing continuity of funding and protection from sudden provider withdrawal. The problem is that when providers withdraw from the State's core funding scheme, parents are suddenly faced with large fee increases or must move their children, often mid-year, causing disruption and financial hardship. The suggested reforms in this respect that the Conway family came up with are as follows: to legislate to have a minimum funding stability period - of three years, for example - for any provider participating in the ECCE or core funding schemes; to require advance notice of at least six months be provided to parents and the Department before any provider can exit the scheme; to guarantee that families retain their subsidised rate for the duration of their child's placement, even if the provider later withdraws; and to create a continuity fund to protect parents from unexpected fee spikes caused by provider exits.

I am afraid I am out of time but I suspect that the Minister will hear more from me on this issue. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a bheith ag éisteacht liom.