Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The witnesses are all very welcome today. I thank them for their thorough submissions. Regarding childcare, we are all aware that access to an early childhood learning and care system is essential for tackling disadvantage, for early intervention, for bridging socioeconomic disparity and for increased economic participation later on in life. Obviously, the day before yesterday we had the budget and the overall investment in childcare now stands at nearly €1.5 billion. It is important to note where we have come from, in that 50,000 children had access to the national childcare scheme just five years ago and we have 230,000 having access to it this year. The total value of the subsidies has gone from €50 million five years ago up to €420 million. That includes the universal subsidy but also, really importantly for today, the income-assessed subsidy which is now at an average hourly rate of €3.31. Therefore, there has been lots of progress. I think parents were aware that this was going to be a different type of budget from previous budgets but the consensus is that we are at a pivotal moment when it comes to childcare and change, addressing issues around supply and affordability and stepping into public provision as per the programme for Government. Obviously, this year's budget was year one out of five and all of those programme for Government commitments still stand. However, were the witnesses hoping for more of a statement of intent in the programme for Government and the roadmap for change that is in there? What do they need to hear now to be reassured that this change is coming, particularly the action plan that is also committed to within the programme for Government, whereby there will be broad consultation with people like themselves and with parents and providers about that change? How do they feel about this opportunity that we have? Will they also give their reflections on the budget please?