Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will start with the good news. It is not an easy role, and I think the Minister is doing a good job.

My first question on the ACS concerns the review. I welcome that, and I am looking forward to seeing exactly what will be contained in it, as are many others. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, was mentioned. If it is the case that the cost of child care is a lot more than what is currently being provided, which I think will be the result, does the Minister foresee measures in the next budget to deal with this?

My other question relates to the providers and the workers in the sector. As the Minister knows, it is an issue that I feel very strongly about and have raised on several occasions. More and more in my own constituency, child care facilities are being forced to close. It is due to the fact that whatever they are getting in capitation, which I appreciate was increased in the last budget, is just not enough to help them run the business.

Staff wage increases are out the window. Many people are leaving the sector to go into childminding in their own homes because that is more affordable for them. Many quality staff are being lost and if we are not careful there will be a further crisis in this area. In my constituency it is very difficult to get a child care place. It is a strange situation because there is massive demand for such places but, unfortunately, providers are unable to keep going and often unable to retain staff. I ask the Minister to comment on those issues.

On the childminding sector, there are some links between Childminding Ireland and the working group but would the Minister consider strengthening those links such that Childminding Ireland would encourage more childminders to register? I understand 120 are currently registered with Tusla. Much of the fear for childminders is that if they come out of the woodwork, for want of a better phrase, there might be tax implications relating to what they have been earning. Childminding Ireland is well placed to be able to reassure childminders and the links with it could be strengthened.

As regards the access and inclusion model, AIM, training, it is possible it has changed but I understand there is a lottery system for people to attend it. There are many facilities which would really benefit from that training and could use it straight away, while people from other facilities that perhaps do not need it as urgently are being trained because of the lottery system. What is the Minister's view in that regard? It is possible that was an initial way of introducing the training and it has since changed.

What are the guidelines in terms of getting a special needs assistant, SNA, for children in the pre-school year?