Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The point made by Deputy Naughten regarding the age group for the ECCE scheme is very relevant. No firm decision has been made on that yet but clearly it is linked to the school starting age. We have to consider all of the implications and we are working on these issues with the Department of Education and Skills. In terms of the overall approach, Ms McLoughlin and other officials from my Department have been working quite intensively with the Departments of Social Protection and Education and Skills to discuss an approach to the development of second year. That work involves examining issues like whether there are sufficient staff available to implement a second year, what training and standards would be required and so forth. All of those issues require ongoing consideration, even in the context of the one-year scheme. We are also looking at the budgetary implications of moving to introduce a second year. We will have to have building blocks towards it rather than just deciding to implement it. We cannot just say it will start in September. A number of building blocks must be put in place first and we are examining those at present.

I also accept Deputy Naughten's point about streamlining a national approach to funding and we will take any lessons that are to be learned on that. Having said that, I know the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Quinn, has made great progress on the national scheme. Deputy Troy made a point about resources for the national strategy. Clearly, we must see that strategy and examine its resource implications. As the Deputy has said, clearly they go together. The other point he made related to the funding of child care. I would point out that it was a Fianna Fáil Government that took that money and reallocated it to the ECCE scheme. That Government took several hundred million euro from parents directly and the Deputy is asking me if I intend to do the same.