The government’s Core Funding scheme was designed to keep childcare affordable by giving providers government funding in exchange for them agreeing to freeze their fees, meaning they wouldn’t increase costs for parents. However, childcare providers are abandoning the scheme in droves. A new investigation by The Journal Investigates has found that more than 50 providers around the country pulled out in recent years, including 25 that exited the scheme this year alone. We’re joined today by Conor O’Carroll, the reporter behind this report.