Ms Marian Quinn:

We are not disputing that we need to look at a different model or that we need to consider the situation going forward, but the reality is that childcare in Ireland has grown up in the way it has because of the lack of Government interest or investment, or it has not been seen as a priority. In the absence of that, it was something women in the local community set up for each other to support each other. That was gradually extended to families and then to being based in a centre. That has been the reality for between 40 and 50 years. We are looking for a new model now that will incorporate the brilliant work that has been done by providers for many years in the absence of that level of investment.

The big fees in Ireland are due to the lack of Government investment; it is not that the provision in Ireland is hugely more expensive than in other countries, it is because the fees for parents are not subsidised. When looking at a funding model that is more based on public provision, that is something everybody would welcome in the discussions to see exactly how that would work best for families, children and society.