Ms Teresa Heeney:

There is potential for about 1,800 operators to open next Monday but we will not know exact numbers until then. That means there are another 2,700 operators due to open at the end of August or in September. Certainly we look forward to a discussion with the Department about when news about the funding model for all of those services is going to be made available because it will need to be considered so that people can make decisions and plan. Certainly, from the point of view of Early Childhood Ireland, we have said that we need to stop talking about the September model but talk about an August model because much of this work will have to begin in July and August. We are looking forward to that new discussion with the Department.