Dr. Fergal Lynch:

The reason for that is the nature of the childcare schemes. The new entry point is September each year so that is the critical point at which one can judge what one is going to need. Our estimate of money requirements was on the basis of the full year, taking account of the fact that the new term, so to speak, starts in September. That is why we were in that difficult situation. In addition to that then, it is not a case of just simply being allowed spend the money on something else. Money, particularly of that magnitude, would normally have to be surrendered to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Government would have to make a decision on alternative spending rather than us simply saying that we will spend it somewhere else within the Tusla or the Department of Children and Youth Affairs' Vote even though it may be the case that we could identify particular areas where it could be spent.