18 Dec 2019, 13:30
The Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs will hold an emergency meeting with Minister Katherine Zappone to discuss crèche insurance costs today, Wednesday, in Leinster House, Committee 2 at 3.30pm.
Chair of the Committee, Alan Farrell TD said: “The Committee requested the Minister to appear today to provide an update on the current issues regarding insurance cover for crèches.
“It follows reports that more than 1,000 crèches could face closure because of rising insurance costs. Childcare operators are finding it difficult to get a quote for cover after a number of companies withdrew from the market. This leaves parents in the run up to Christmas in fear of losing their childcare, staff concerns about their jobs and business owners forced through high insurance costs to leave the sector.
“We want to hear from the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs what is being done to address this issue.”
Watch the Committee live.