Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I accept that we are not to go into too much detail on the issue but it is worth putting on the record that the scheme is budgeted for in a particular way, based on a particular wage, and the programme as currently structured requires low pay. That is a statement of fact and it is not outside of our remit to take an adverse view of that. As well as the rate of pay there is the potential for flexibility or zero-hour contracts. It is not beyond our remit to remark on that.

My first three or four questions are primarily for the ACP and Early Childhood Ireland and then I will ask one or two short questions of the child care committees. Reference was made to the fact that ECCE is not being incorporated from the get-go. Why do the witnesses believe that is the case?

I support what was said in terms of approximately 10% of administration costs needing to be factored into the cost of child care. A point that was regularly referenced previously about child care workers is that there were difficulties with people involved in the sector having to go to the Department of Social Protection during the summer months. Does this scheme improve the situation to some extent or will there still be a difficulty because people require fewer hours during the summer? What way is that likely to play out in terms of engaging with the Department of Social Protection on such payments?

Reference was made in the ACP submission to the effect that we should not be talking about hourly rates but should take a much broader view and consider a salary approach. I would welcome a comment in that regard. As things stand, given the first-come-first-served element of the scheme, how do the two organisations see this playing out in September? Will it be chaotic or just difficult?

The Minister made reference to the fact that the CCCs will administer a sustainability fund of approximately €1 million for community facilities due to changes in regulation. In my area the Cork committee has made a submission but it is not aware of whether it will get funding. A commitment has been given but the committee has not been able to draw down funding. It must be able to make preparations. When are we likely to see the commitments that have been made honoured so that committees will be able to draw down funding?

It has been brought to my attention that previously child care providers had a better sense of the funding they would receive.

They will now receive a lump sum and have to do a significant amount of administrative work to figure out how much exactly they are receiving for each child. They will have to calculate the rate of subsidy for each child.