Ms Frances Byrne:

I thank the Chair. Ms Smith made a point about irregular hours that Ms Ward and Ms Bayliss picked up. Some people work outside of the norm of the nine-to-five. In those cases, couples have to make difficult decisions about one parent covering day shifts and night shifts. It is difficult for those who parent alone and for their children. The national childcare scheme does not preclude that, but very few crèches in Ireland - I can think of one - that are prepared to open later.

Childminding has not been regulated. While families who use childminders are eligible to get subsidies, these childminders have to be regulated and registered. That is all coming into law. The last time we appeared before the committee we said that. The former Minister and the current Minister and the officials are aware of this, not as a flaw, but as something lacking in the current national childcare scheme. This needs to be addressed for people who are studying or working outside normal hours and, particularly, for families that are headed by a lone parent. Hopefully, we will see some progress on that in the review of the scheme. All stakeholders are aware of it. It has a particular impact on disadvantaged families, which needs to be addressed.