Ms Bernie McNally:

On the guidelines, we have published a very significant amount of resources. In fact, some people in the sector say we have probably given a little bit too much. There is a dedicated space on our First 5 website, with all sorts of guidance, including specifically what Deputy Funchion asks about. Significant guidance has been developed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC, of the HSE for people who have concerns about their health or infection control. We have worked with the HPSC and published the guidelines alongside other resources that organisations such as Early Childhood Ireland and others have helped us with.

As regards the ECCE programme, I fully hear what the Deputy says about how it would be lovely for children to give them an extra few weeks. Our focus had to be on getting childcare services up and running on 29 June and I think the Deputy will appreciate that it has been a significant challenge. I think we are nearly there. The reports on the ground seem to be quite positive about next week, so we can turn our attention to others. There would be a cost to that. We do not have a budget for that at the moment but it is something we can look at.