Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious of the fact that we met the Minister a couple of weeks ago and we discussed many of the issues he addressed today.

First, I will address issues relating to the inter-departmental committee on child care. The Minister is aware that up to 3,000 practitioners took to the streets two days ago to express their concern at the lack of investment in the sector. At the meeting of the select committee on the Estimates, I highlighted the reduction in funding to the ECCE scheme and the payment of a reduced capitation fee for each participant. My colleagues across the political divide and I ask that, as a minimum, the Minister considers increasing the capitation grant to what it was originally, as it would be a major benefit to the scheme. Did the Minister have an opportunity to consider this or is he in a position to do that?

I welcome his statement that, "Investment that is evidence-based and well-considered can help support parents, improve the pay of staff and benefit children". I take it the Minister no longer agrees with his statement on "Prime Time" that the pay and terms and conditions of the staff was the sole responsibility of the service providers. A third of the service providers are community-based and the main contract of the remaining service providers is with the State. Will he confirm whether he accepts that the State has a responsibility for the pay and terms and conditions of the staff working in these services? The Minister should be looking at including the terms and conditions in the low pay commission.

There are conflicting views emanating from Government as to how working families can be supported to afford child care. In early January, the Irish Independent covered a leaked report, I take it that it came from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, that tax credits were being examined. The Minister dismissed that when responding to a question in the Dáil and during a debate on the issue in Private Members' business. On Monday last the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, stated on "Claire Byrne Live" that it was being considered and had not been ruled out. Will the Minister give a definitive answer on the Government's position on it?

I welcome the establishment of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes. I ask once again for reassurance that the people who were in institutions that are not named in the terms will have an opportunity to have their voice heard and that it will be down to the commission to decide whether further investigation is warranted. I would appreciate if the Minister could confirm that.

I welcome that the Children First Bill 2014 will be brought forward but it is disappointing the Minister cannot give us more information on Committee Stage. The Minister said he would be happy to listen to us today, and I hope he has heard the concerns that we articulated on Second Stage of this Bill. One of my main concerns at that Stage was that I felt the Bill was watered down from what was originally published in that there were no sanctions for people who do not report child welfare concerns. I used the opportunity to speak on the Children and Family Bill. The heads of the adoption (information and tracing) Bill has been promised for a number of years and I hope a Bill will be before us in this term. Is it true that the Bill will deal only with prospective adoptions? If that were the case, I would have a real worry that it will not address the issue of identity for the tens of thousands who have been adopted prior to and after the enactment of the Adoption Act 1952. Will he allude to that?

I have asked about the procedures in place to provide cover to deal with the case load of social workers who are on maternity leave? A person who proposes to take maternity leave will be in a position to give advance notice. I have been informed that the group who are charged with the responsibility for sanctioning cover for maternity leave will not even look at approving cover for the period of maternity leave until the individual goes on maternity leave in spite of the fact that they have given notice from 12 weeks into the pregnancy. Surely once the person has given the required notice well in advance of going on maternity leave, the process should begin and not when the person goes on leave? That contributes to the prolonged period of time without cover.

During Private Members' business I raised the issue of equal opportunities for children with special educational needs. The free preschool year is a means of ensuring that every child has an equal opportunity to attend preschool. Unfortunately there is provision in the legislation for the service provider who does not have the necessary supports, who can refuse a place for a child with special educational needs. That is wrong. I was disappointed when the Minister said that the HSE in some instances provides supports to children with special educational needs.

That is not good enough. We have a very inconsistent approach to children with special educational needs who require early education. What is the Department doing to ensure we have a consistent approach and a detailed strategy to deal with children with special educational needs in the early childhood care and educational setting?

In regard to the guardian ad litemservice, we all acknowledge that the best interests and the voice of the child must be heard in all court proceedings. When will we have a reformed system that will provide much greater efficiencies? The money that is being spent in this area is coming out of front-line services when it could be better spent.