Extortionate insurance premium hikes putting childcare places at risk

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin-Fingal and spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government Darragh O’Brien raised the issue of extortionate insurance premium hikes with the Taoiseach in the Dáil this week.
Deputy O’Brien says childcare places in for both pre-school and after-school are under serious threat due across the country due to spiralling insurance premium hikes and has committed to meeting with Minister for Children Katherine Zappone on the matter.
Deputy O’Brien gave an example of a creche in Swords which saw their insurance premium rise from €729 last year to €3,710 this year, with many other childcare facilities facing similar premiums.
“Not only is this an insurance crisis but also a child care provision crisis. If nothing is done, we will lose hundreds of places in North Dublin and potentially thousands across the country. This is a massive issue for families and childcare providers across the country and immediate action needs to be taken by Minister Zappone and by Government.
“My party leader Micheál Martin has also raised this serious issue in the Dáil with the Taoiseach. I have also written directly to the Minister and have tabled a specific parliamentary question directly to her.  
“I asked the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs was she aware of the massive increases in insurance premiums quoted to childcare providers, that these increases could put many said providers out of business resulting in the loss of thousands of preschool and after-school places, what action she and her Department are taking to avert this crisis and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
“We need to be supporting young families and reassure them that more childcare places will be made available, but we need to tackle the escalating insurance premium hikes,” concluded Deputy O’Brien.