Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the departmental officials for their presentations. When one contributes towards the end of a debate, it gives one the opportunity to see what questions were not asked. Those are the ones I will focus on rather than repeating points that were already raised. During an earlier session today, I referred to reports in today's newspapers of a statement by the Federation of Early Childhood Providers which included the following warning:

The Department don't even understand their own package of supports for the sector, which fall short, will force children with additional needs to stay at home and leave a massive black hole in the finances of early years providers.

That is a very bleak assessment and it will leave many providers and parents worried.

Does the Department feel this is a fair assessment of the support? What basis is the Department using to calculate the appropriate level of financial supports needed for crèches now and in the future? Perhaps Dr. Lynch would please answer me.