I want to raise the issue of childcare. Yesterday, we heard that 40,000 children are on waiting lists and that over 1,000 childcare facilities have closed over the past six years. I am raising, in particular, the issue of the numerous parents in my own constituency who have contacted me because they are terrified that their crèche, UniKids Childcare, in the National Technology Park, Castletroy, will likely have to close due to core funding issues. The launch of the Government plan to provide State-led early learning, while welcome, will do nothing to ease their worries unless core funding caps are considered. What is the Government doing to help parents with kids in crèches like UniKids, which are at risk of closure due to underfunding? Will the Tánaiste look into the core funding cap in relation to this?

I thank Deputy Sheehan very much for raising this important issue. A record number of services are now operating within core funding, with a 5% increase on last year. Four thousand five hundred and fifty-nine services are now signed up for core funding. However, I take the point that a parent of a child in Castletroy concerned about his or her own service will want to know what is going to happen locally in addition to the national numbers.

We have very much kicked off some of our key commitments on childcare. We will be reducing childcare costs for 47,000 low-income families by providing them with additional subsidies under the national childcare scheme this year. We saw the capital investment plan announced yesterday as well. The issue of core funding will, of course, be examined as part of the childcare plan, as it must be. However, I will ask the relevant Minister, Deputy Foley, to engage directly with the Deputy, particularly if there is local concern about Castletroy.