Childcare and after-school places
The Deputy described a shortage of crèche and after-school places in Kilcullen and asked about a State-led service for the town. The Taoiseach noted overall growth in early years provision, said any State-led model must avoid disrupting existing providers, and promised to have the Minister examine Kilcullen.
I want to raise the issue of childcare places, including after-school care, with the Taoiseach. I particularly want to raise the issues of childcare and after-school care in Kilcullen, a town of 4,000 people in my own constituency of Kildare South. I am currently dealing with 14 families who cannot get a crèche place and 16 families who cannot get an after-school place. Unfortunately for the town, there is a fit-for-purpose building lying idle. It is developed and ready to go. When will we see a State-led childcare and after-school service? Will the Minister, Deputy Foley, work with me in Kilcullen for those purposes?
Comment on this
Yesterday, I read the education indicators. Approximately 94% of all children between the ages of three and five are now in early years services, which is a huge increase from where we were a decade ago. It represents substantial progress. When we talk about State-led care, we have to be very clear as to how we intend to increase that provision and the methodology by which we would do it. A lot of people have invested a lot in the existing childcare infrastructure. We have to make sure we do not disrupt that in any processes as well.
On the specifics of the Deputy's case, which town did he mention?