An Athlone childcare provider is concerned over the sustainability of some services in the region.
Under new plans early years educators and managers will receive a pay increase, with hourly rates to range from €13 to €17.50.
However the managing director of Grovelands Childcare Regina Bushell says a cap on fees must be lifted along with the increase in core funding to ensure providers survive.
The Westmeath native is warning of challenges ahead for the sector due to rising costs.
She says the original cap on fees was agreed in 2021 when the cost of energy and other overheads were much lower.
''We can foresee that definitely some people are going to have difficulties in sustaining themselves and to be honest and fair I think our communities all around the country where there are small services you know that they need to be sustainable but if they're not sustainable now and weren't sustainable before Covid how are they going to be sustainable in the future?.''
