Mr. Pat Rabbitte:

I think we are about half way there. It is important to remind ourselves that the agency came into being at the nadir of our fortunes economically. Deputy Neville is in a majority. People throw their hands up in amazement that we had a paper-based system until recently. The facts of the matter are that insufficient moneys were allocated during the foundation period of the agency for all of the reasons that we know. Fortunately, things have changed. Economic recovery has been faster than anybody suggested at the time. Whether it is even is a political question and does not concern us here. The Minister has found significant additional resources, especially in the past two years. People expert in the area assure me that the national childcare information system, NCCIS, is working very well. They place a lot of value on the fact that it is embraced by front-line staff.

There may be some exceptions to that about which I am not being told - I do not know - but, generally speaking, people see it as a positive. It certainly offers great possibilities with regard to the time wasted under the old system. As well as setting the foundation of the agency in the economic circumstances of 2014, we also have to recognise that we have had three chief executives in that very short time. I hope the chief executive will be confirmed in the post in the next couple of months, although that might be ambitious. Driving the change management programme has to be the priority of whoever is confirmed in the post. The expertise and professionalism is there in respect of the core business. The role of the chief executive has to be that of a manager. Driving that programme will be his or her priority. We have been talking to the Public Appointments Service, PAS. As I have said, the post will be advertised on 8 March. I cannot give the committee any assessment of how quick or how successful the process will be.