Dr. Fergal Lynch:

With the greatest respect to the federation, I simply do not agree that we do not understand our own package. We spent a lot of time working out what an appropriate evidence-based set of supports would be. That is why we worked out what we thought was an appropriate set of supports. To claim that we do not understand them just does not hold water.

I think it is fair to say that in the advisory group, the overall reaction to that package has been broadly positive. Inevitably, when people are commenting on it in public, it is understandable that people say they want more or need more - that is to be entirely expected - but we sought to sit down and work out, on the basis of the information and data we had, an appropriate, fair and reasonable package of measures that would ensure providers were supported to provide a reasonable service in June and July. That is exactly what we did. We brought it to the Government and it was approved on that basis.

Regarding children with special needs, I think it is important to emphasise that it is already open to providers to provide that service to people with special needs. The childcare providers themselves are trained and the staff ratios are such that it is possible to do that. Better Start will be offering supports. The applications have already started for the access and inclusion model, AIM, system which kicks in for ECCE from September. I think in overall terms it is reasonable to say that the provision of service that we have planned and supported is carefully thought out and is certainly not one that is not understandable or that we do not understand. We have put a lot of work, time and effort into it. I stress that it was developed with considerable input from the sector itself.