Joe O'Reilly (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Ginnell for his presentation. On his last point, I agree that we need action on mortgage arrears and to do our best to force the institutions to deal with individuals on a case-by-case basis to arrive at satisfactory solutions. Much has been done by the Government in this area, but it needs to remain a priority.

In some respects, Mr. Ginnell will accept that the recommendations predate the budget with regard to early childhood education in that it will now be available for free right up to five years of age, at which time children enter primary school. I am a complete believer in early childhood education. It is probably the greatest mechanism for creating a fair society and equality of opportunity and for giving everybody a reasonable break. Those of us who had the privilege of teaching at some stage in our careers, or of having trained professionally as teachers, will recognise that early childhood years are critical to a child's development into adulthood. I presume the delegates have no issue with my saying that the recommendation on early childhood education has effectively been dealt with in the budget.

Let me refer to the recommendation with regard to people with a disability. Tackling this will become a challenge for the Government. It is a matter that we will have to address as times improve and as we start to rebuild a normal society. I know from my clinic work that there are too many people with disabilities who cannot get suitable work in the marketplace. This needs to be addressed. I challenge the view that there is too much focus on the jobseeker's payment. Bearing in mind that I am not saying this joint Oireachtas committee is not a party political forum, I believe the focus of the Government, the Department and the country on job activation strategies has been the right one. I challenge the recommendation in this regard. I am interested in hearing Mr. Ginnell's response on this.

I am not convinced that we have not addressed the primary care issue fairly well. In my constituency, a number of new primary care centres, which I will not list, were opened. Other centres were refurbished. They are up and running, doing well and fulfilling a function.

I am not personalising this in respect of Mr. Ginnell but I do not accept the proposition in the report that primary care is by any means on the hind foot. The focus of administration always has to be on savings and cutting waste without compromising front-line services but I challenge the view that primary care is not very central. I look forward to Mr. Ginnell's response on this.