Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister referred to subsidised care for children aged nine to 36 months. How is she seeking to deliver that? Has she submitted it as one of her requirements in the budget discussions?

In regard to the provision of a second year under the early childhood care and education scheme, I am receiving many calls from parents of children with disabilities who have queries in this regard. Are there are any support mechanisms in place to assist those parents?

I have submitted several parliamentary questions in regard to the community child care subvention programme and the community child care subvention - private scheme. I am unclear as to the exact numbers available in respect of the CCS programme. Is 8,000 the correct figure? Will the Minister also clarify the uptake of the CCSP scheme? My understanding is there are some 1,300 places available under that scheme. A reply I received to a parliamentary question indicated the uptake under the CCS programme was 10,000 under band A, 2,350 under band AJ, and 7,000 under band B. Under the CCSP scheme, meanwhile, uptake was 450 in band A, only 104 in band AJ, and 726 in band B. I am seeking clarity in this regard.