Childcare Services
Dail Éireann — 2021-07-06
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Roderic O'Gorman (GP), Dublin West

In its terms of reference, the expert group established by the former Minister, Dr. Katherine Zappone, was specifically asked to examine what I believe was described as "a DEIS-type model" of childcare. That is being looked at. We hope the expert group will report by November of this year. As I have said to the Deputy previously, the NCS is two years old. A significant change has been rolled out in the middle of the Covid pandemic. We must accept that there is an element of bedding the system down. However, I also recognise that a system that works very well on the macro level can sometimes have impacts on the micro level. I welcome the Deputy's engagement and that of other Deputies and Senators who have voiced concerns about impacts in certain areas. I will continue to listen. We have introduced some short-term measures. The safety net of the sustainability fund is available. We commit to continue to look at that issue and act on the data we receive.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2021-07-06/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:49:29+00:00
Sitting date: 2021-07-06