Sinn Féin TD for Waterford Conor D. McGuinness has warned that newly issued commercial rates bills could drive childcare providers across the county out of business and deepen the ongoing childcare crisis.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy McGuinness said early years services already face severe pressure, with operators leaving the sector and childcare capacity continuing to decline, particularly in rural towns and villages.

He said providers across Waterford received unexpected and unprecedented rates bills shortly before Christmas, leaving many services struggling to remain viable.

“These bills are utterly unfair,” Deputy McGuinness said. “Childcare providers delivering the state-funded ECCE programme were previously exempt from commercial rates. Without warning or engagement, that position changed, and some services now face bills of more than €12,000.”

Impact Across County Waterford

Deputy McGuinness said the rates demands already affect childcare and early years services in Lismore, Abbeyside, Leamybrien, Kilmacthomas, Touraneena, and other communities throughout County Waterford.

He linked the issue to a valuation review carried out by Tailte Éireann, which led Waterford City and County Council to issue rates bills to affected providers.

“These services deliver a government-funded and government-sanctioned childcare programme,” he said. “They fill a gap in state provision on behalf of the State. The State should treat them as an essential public service and exempt them from commercial rates.”

Risk to Jobs and Childcare Places

Deputy McGuinness warned that the bills place childcare providers at real risk of closure, which could result in job losses and further reduce the availability of early years places across the county.

He said the financial and emotional toll on operators has been significant.

“The stress and uncertainty these bills have created cannot be overstated,” he said. “Government must intervene urgently before more childcare services close and families lose even more childcare options.”

Deputy McGuinness called on the Government to act quickly to reverse the policy change and protect early years services across Waterford and beyond.

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