Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I had a specific question on aligning the financial reporting with the reporting required for core funding and the mismatch between the reporting periods.

The Deputy asked the question and Dr. Brooks answered that and referred to Mr. Considine. I know from submitting annual returns myself over the past 23 years that after a period of time, there is a uniformity. I would imagine that in this sector, it is not that dynamic. For many businesses, it will be quite similar from year to year. If you can take last year's report as a snapshot of what is likely to happen, if that accelerates the process and only one set of reports was required, it would be great if that could be seen as certification. It does not make sense to have duplicate or triplicate systems but I understand its genesis.

I echo what was said here last week and what I said this morning. When you think about the psychological, emotional, intellectual and physical development of our citizens, this intervention is an essential service. The level of distress I detect in the correspondence suggests that we need to work together a bit harder. Dr. Brooks's response was that there is an allocation and if there are additional exposures to costs, they must be absorbed by the providers. In the past 48 hours, when Met Éireann issued the red alerts about Storm Debi, the bit that made my blood run cold was the announcement that all universities, schools, crèches and childcare settings would not open until 10 a.m. because without these services, there is no economy because of the transformation of society. I hope Dr. Brooks is getting the kind of alacrity and attention this issue deserves from her colleagues in other Departments and Revenue because it is an essential service that I would put with the ambulance service, health or An Garda Síochána. I know Dr. Brooks knows that but I am concerned by the distress I read in the correspondence. I thank her for her very comprehensive responses.