Mr. Kevin McCarthy:

We are well aware of concerns being raised by smaller ECCE providers. There has been a lot of engagement with them around the issues they are raising. I will make the point that, as I said, there is a funding guarantee under the new funding model so no provider is less well off. Some 99% of providers are better off and many are significantly better off. That is all part of an objective of investing in quality in the sector and ensuring that staff in the sector are supported as professionals. An employment regulation order is in place now to allow that.

Small ECCE providers will benefit relatively less well from core funding or from the new funding model than larger, full-programme childcare providers, for the simple reason that their operations are smaller in terms of the number of hours offered. They are open for 15 hours a week for 38 weeks a year so by definition they will not benefit to the same extent from a funding model that provides-----