122. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the efforts being made to urgently address the crisis within the childcare system, with many childcare facilities unable to attract and retain staff; whether childcare facilities struggling to retain staff and at risk of closure can receive additional funding to improve the staff pay and conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7078/25]

Sentiment score: -0.20

Ar an gcéad dul síos, I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his elevation to office and I wish him well. I also wish an dá Aire well in their new roles. I really want to ask the Minister the steps she is taking to deal with the lack of disability services in south Tipperary, the number of vacancies in CDNTs 4 and 5, the number of children waiting for occupational and speech therapy and psychological services within the CDNTs and whether those waiting for services can access services privately and then be reimbursed. I hope to get some good news. This system is badly broken.

Sentiment score: 0.26

I apologise. I had two questions. I will introduce the first one again. The question is on childcare. Naíonra Chaisleáin Nua was set up fadó fadó and we have a huge problem retaining staff. The whole early years sector is bursting at the seams with children but staff are moving on. Progression is a good thing but we cannot get replacements. It is a huge issue the Ministers might address.

Sentiment score: 0.10

Certainly, we need the voluntary sector here. Naíonra Chaisleáin Nua is a voluntary crèche. I salute the current board there, who work tirelessly, and Helen Nic Craith, who set it up. It was her dream. We need to support those people because these are voluntary boards. We should not remove them or stifle them with bureaucracy. It is the same with the section 39 workers. It is fine for the Minister to say she has no responsibility for their wages. They need to be properly resourced and funded. Early years are so vital for the children. This is rud iontach ar fad, daoine óga ag foghlaim Gaeilge. It is through fun and sport. All my children, or most of them, went to it. It is bursting at the seams. Staff might go to other services but they go into different areas as well. They are well-qualified and it is hard to retain them, especially when the funding is not put in to support these voluntary groups. There are thousands of them around the country. We should not kill off the spirit of enthusiasm and entrepreneurship among volunteers who get nothing out of it only love of community and education. It is a pity. We need to support them whatever way we can.

Sentiment score: 0.19

It sounds great. As Gaeilge, it would probably even sound better. I salute the staff, management and teams that are there. However, the regulations are huge. For the baby room and the early years, the staff ratios are huge. In national school, you can have one teacher to 32 children. It is not a level playing field. I acknowledge there is unprecedented funding. It is trickling down to the likes of Naíonra Chaisleáin Nua and Naíonra Chathair Dhún Iascaigh and to English-language playschools and childcare facilities, which make up the majority of them. Obair stairiúil atá á déanamh ag gach ceann acu but they need the supports. They are voluntary boards and they should not be labelled with these issues and lectured to that they are not paying this wage and that wage. They are doing their level best and they are giving excellent tuition and excellent grounding to these daoine óige, from the cradle, literally, and they need to be supported. It is fine to quote figures but the reality on the ground and realpolitik are a different story.

Sentiment score: 0.27