Mr. Kevin McCarthy:

I wish to come back in on a point I did not get to earlier. I refer to the matter raised by Deputy Verona Murphy regarding early years services, closures in this area and funding and pay rates in the sector. The Deputy expressed a concern about the significant turnover rates in this area. It is important to acknowledge that, by means of the core funding model and the negotiation of new employment regulation orders, there has been an increase in pay.

There is an increase in pay for 70% of staff in the sector. There is a new employment regulation order, ERO, on the way. Under the core funding model, no provider should be less well off. All providers will have seen an increase in support and funding through the Department of public expenditure and reform.