Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the role of the childminders. It is extremely difficult and demanding work for them and anyone who works in the early years setting. In the past year and a half, we have seen with Covid, everyone in that sector has stepped up to the plate. They and the work they do has been invaluable. It is a sector I would like to see receiving more focus even in relation to wages in the sector.

It is great that the committee has an opportunity to examine this. We are beginning by looking at childminding but we have a number of upcoming sessions on early years and it is important that we are looking at this. I acknowledge everybody working in the sector because it is not an easy task. It has been particularly difficult over the past year and a half and I want to put this on record.

I sincerely thank all of the witnesses. It is a bit more difficult with people having to use Zoom and it is not like before when we could have people in the room. I thank everyone for bearing with us. I also thank the committee members for their questions and for sticking to their time limits. It is great we were able to get everything in within the two hour slot, which can be difficult some days. My sincere thanks to everybody. Is it agreed that the opening statements will be published on the Oireachtas website? Agreed.