Oireachtas committee to examine childcare costs and staffing

Lawmakers will hear from employers, a union and providers as they revisit State provision for early years places. Thursday’s Leinster House session will consider fee caps and whether services can remain sustainable.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Equality will resume its examination of State-provided childcare places and early years issues on Thursday, 12 November.

The meeting will begin at 9.30am in Committee Room 2 at Leinster House. Members will hear from representatives of:

Childhood Services Ireland (IBEC)
SIPTU – Early Years Union
The Federation of Early Childhood Providers

Committee chair Deputy Keira Keogh said the session would be the fourth in the committee’s series of discussions on the subject. Earlier this year, members heard from Minister for Children Norma Foley TD, as well as early childcare providers and crèche operators from around the country. “Members now look forward to hearing the views of the employer representative body Childhood Services Ireland, the SIPTU – Early Years Union, and the Federation of Early Childhood Providers,” Keogh said. “Key topics for discussion include the Impact of fee caps, the sustainability of the sector and challenges faced by early childcare providers, including staffing.” The committee has 14 members: nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad. The meeting can be watched live on Oireachtas TV, while proceedings are also available through the Houses of the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android devices. Media enquiries can be directed to Robert Kennedy-Cochrane, Communications Unit, Houses of the Oireachtas, Leinster House, Dublin 2. Telephone: +353 (0)1 618 4149 or +353 (0) 85 8707436. Email: [email protected] or [email protected].