Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that answer from Mr. Ó Foghlú but it did not address my core point, which is the pay disparity between what those in early years education are paid and the pay of a primary school teacher. Those pioneers and champions of early years education have stood outside the Dáil on two occasions in the past 12 months, seeking an admission by Government of their role. I have made the point that they have fallen between stools, because, as Mr. Ó Foghlú said, it not under his remit. When I put the question to the Secretary General of the Department of Children and Youth affairs, he said that we are only assisting a sector that is effectively private but both Secretaries General are asking them to implement Government policy. The people in the early childhood sector are working for the minimum wage. I will continue to raise their concerns because they are the first rung of the education ladder for our young children.

I also wish to focus on the anticipated fall off of admissions to primary schools. Will somebody square this circle in terms of the national planning framework that is being discussed at present and a projected population increase over time? Areas of development and growth are being identified. One of the major headaches for the Department for Education and Skills during the period of the noughties was the proliferation of prefab schools due to the population explosion. I have been in the Department of Education and Skills' fine offices in Tullamore where one sees the chart of the hot spots. In terms of getting ahead of the curve and working with the Department in anticipated population growth areas, given that Mr. Ó Foghlú believes there will be a population fall off in primary admissions, what role has the Department of Education and Skills had with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government at this stage?