Some childcare providers may be put out of business after Christmas because the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has sought immediate recoupment of overpayments from early years' providers, according to the small firms group ISME.
In a letter to Minister Roderic O'Gorman on behalf of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, ISME Chief Executive Neil McDonnell warns that failure to address this issue urgently "...threatens the ability of parents to return to work after this lockdown, the employment of staff after Christmas, and the assurance of children's places on a scheme after Christmas".
Outlining the background to the situation, Mr McDonnell notes that due to a Government decision to maintain the early years sector when the