Wicklow parents pay the highest average weekly cost for childcare outside of Dublin at €235.90. It is an incredible amount for anyone to have to pay. In addition we have only 20 community centres out of 161. That is 12%. That can be compared with other counties like Leitrim and Monaghan, where more than 60% of their early learning providers are community centres. I understand that the Government is bringing in a pilot and that a number of community crèches will be established. I ask that Wicklow be very carefully considered as one of those counties. The need is there, as the Tánaiste will know. It is important that parents in Wicklow get support to access work.

I hope Wicklow is there too. I fully agree with the Deputy. We live in a county that is both young and fast growing. We know that through our own work not only on school capacity and the likes but also on childcare capacity. While I fully accept that childcare costs are too high, and we all have a similar view on the direction of travel that needs to take place on reducing childcare costs, one of the big issues we face in Greystones, Delgany, Bray and right across County Wicklow is access to places. I was pleased that the Minister, Deputy Foley, announced a fund to start intervening directly. I believe we must do that. We cannot just leave this to the market. The Department is going through a mapping exercise as to where the need is most acute. I will ask that Wicklow be considered as part of that and revert to the Deputy directly on it.