Ms Evelyn Reilly:

I would like to answer some questions. We need a degree-led, professional workforce. We are professional. It does not mean that every single person must have a degree, but a degree-led graduate workforce is the way forward to acknowledge where we are and to give value for the children.

With regard to unannounced inspections, having had inspections since the very beginning there are not many jobs where a staff member is making Play-Doh and is quizzed on child protection policy while they are working with the children. That is what happens when one is trying to be mindful of ratios and so on. There are elements of all the inspections that should be announced, especially around paperwork. I agree with unannounced inspections for quality control, but a great deal of paperwork inspection could be announced, so that the business has the paperwork ready and somebody ready to do it. That is something for the committee to think about.

In terms of children with additional needs, for those members who may not be aware, at the outset of the scheme children with additional needs were afforded two full years. That should be completely reinstated. The idea of splitting one year of full preschool weeks over two years is unacceptable. A parent said to me that her child's rights were not met. She went on to school never having done five days. That requires supports. We as providers must be able to access SNAs if we feel we need them and the Department must pay for them.