Ms Paula Donohoe:

The free preschool year should not be elongated, because it would not benefit the children or the staff. It is similar to primary schools: everybody needs a break. A second free preschool year will require, along with the quality, major capital investment. We definitely need the SNA hours, to be used wisely and with training. Regarding the community childcare subvention scheme, without a doubt, the funding is for the child, not the service. Why we are letting the funding be directed into a service rather than going with the child is beyond me.

A grant was announced recently by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy James Reilly, which ranged from €500,000 to €500. We in the private sector could only apply for €500. There was massive discrimination. It was hidden behind the idea of disadvantaged children, but we also know that the children in community services are not only disadvantaged. There are many children who are not designated as disadvantaged. We felt very left out and discriminated against and we would like all grants, as they were announced, to be given to all, so that there is a fairness to all children in all services.