This morning the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate notified two childcare providers that they are to be removed from the Register of Early Years Services in 21 working days. Those services are the Oblate Fathers Community Crèche in Dublin 8 and Home from Home in Greystones, Co. Wicklow.

The Oblate Fathers Community Crèche is a community/not for profit service working in an area with high levels of disadvantage. As such it has access to additional supports provided by the department. These supports include targeted assistance provided by the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal.

Discussions have now been initiated between the CCC and the current management of the community service, to explore potential solutions to keep the service open. The continued operation of the service under alternative management structures must be approved in advance by Tusla, as the independent regulator. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs will work closely with Tusla on this.

Minister Zappone committed to providing an update for affected parents as soon as possible.

In respect of the private service in Greystones, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has been liaising with Wicklow County Childcare Committee to offer supports to families.

City and County Childcare Committees have local knowledge on availability of places and can also offer advice to parents on choosing a new childcare provider.

Providers who are issued with a removal notice have a right of appeal to the District Court. Once a service is removed from the register it must close and will no longer receive public funding.

Dublin City Childcare Committee can be contacted at (01) 873 3696 or [email protected]

Wicklow County Childcare Committee can be contacted at (0404) 64455 or [email protected]

Contact details and links to websites of all local City/County Childcare Committee can be found on www.myccc.ie. In addition, advice on finding local childminders is available from Childminding Ireland at (01) 287 8466 or [email protected] and through www.childminding.ie.