Mr. Darragh O'Connor:

I will make a quick point. Many of the building blocks are now in place to be able to facilitate investment into the sector in this budget. The JLC is place. The new funding model is coming out and will be published imminently. We have been talking about investment. That is all money. That is not a radical demand. There is a commitment in the Government's First 5 strategy and in the programme for Government, to double funding into the sector by 2028. Let us get on with that. Why not start solving this, and averting the critical crisis that is happening now? This budget presents an opportunity to recognise and reward the sector and the professionals working in it with proper pay and conditions and, hopefully, to avert disaster. We are into the space of living with a crisis and averting disaster. Remedial action is therefore needed straight away.