Ms Teresa Heeney:

In Scotland, there is a police vetting passport-type system. This may make Mr. Jeyes even more nostalgic. Our Irish Garda vetting system is such that one could find oneself seeking Garda vetting from five different organisations. This has led to a very congested system. In Scotland, there is a passport-type system, and the passport travels with the individual for a defined period. A key issue with regard to many breaches pertaining to Garda vetting compliance is that there are now very many international staff working in services. It is virtually impossible to secure Garda vetting for many of them because we do not have agreements with their countries.

Let me return to the school-age child care issue. If we want to have quality school-age child care, we must have appropriate levels of capitation when the Government is funding the CETS programme. The levels of capitation for the current programme are grossly inadequate. The Department of Social Protection is funding that measure as a Labour-enhancement measure. I hope this discussion will lead to the leveraging of more funds from the Department.