Mr. Dónall Geoghegan:

Deputy Ó Laoghaire referred to maternity and paternity rates. In our submission for the budget we stuck to the subject of increasing the number of weeks of parental leave up to the year that Ms Heeney mentioned early on as being very important for a child's development as shown by a considerable amount of research. We did not get into the rates to be paid; we have some materials but we decided not to put those in it. It is just on the basis of trying to increase the number of weeks. Obviously, the rates paid for maternity leave and subsequently for paternity and parental leave are very important for that as well so we agree with that.

The Deputy asked about the potential for capping fees as a possible solution. We have got advice from some economists on this. If we were to do so now, we would lock in unsustainability for the sector. In other words, if everything that Ms Heeney mentioned in terms of the cost of child care were to be locked in and we capped fees right now, the sector would continue as it is with low pay, low margins and low prospects.

Deputy Rabbitte is absolutely right in saying that we need to think of the sector as a whole and not seek to divide it into its various parts here and there - school age, baby room, etc. If mechanisms are put in for one element, for example one age group or one particular provision be it community or private, it has effects throughout the entire sector. We need to consider it as a whole sector and not divide it. Importantly, the Department of Education and Skills has some responsibility in the area of ECCE, the free preschool year. That Department cares about children from the age of three, but it has no responsibility below that. We believe that is divisive and it could become increasingly divisive over coming years. We need to look at the sector as a whole - all the age groups, urban-rural etc.

The Deputy asked about the availability of parents in the evenings and that type of thing. We need to talk about such issues. The underlying principle that should inform any decisions about availability and accessibility at various times, including in the evening or whenever, must be the best interests of the child. It is about the child's best welfare. Let us talk through those kinds of issues and come to conclusion on them.