Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)

It is unfortunate that something could not be done between now and then, given the special advocate has been put in place. The special advocate has called for the urgent expansion and she has done her homework on the failings of the scheme. Sadly, people will have passed by the time this review takes place and be left with nothing. It is not right.

In her opening statement, the Minister referenced foster carers. Foster carers in the State have looked after, brought into their homes and given love and care to, in some cases, hundreds of children throughout their time fostering. They have given years of their life to fostering and when they come to the age of 66, they have no State pension. I have raised this issue with the Minister repeatedly. The solution is there in terms of family carers. I remember engaging with Heather Humphreys, then Minister for Social Protection, in terms of the solution that was created for family carers, which has worked so well. Again, I ask the Minister, rather than starting from scratch or looking at something new, to look at that solution for foster carers. It is wrong that these people who do what they do in looking after our most vulnerable children are left at 66 without a State pension. They are left to live in poverty. I hosted foster carers here a couple of months ago. They spoke of the hardship and the poverty experienced having given most of their lives to fostering children and I want to make reference to that again.

I acknowledge that there have been improvements in terms of the budget. The Minister is committed to foster carers and to improving things for them but the State pension needs to be dealt with quickly. The Minister will be aware of that. I have raised it with her previously so I will move on.

I note the other underspends in terms of core funding and building blocks. My position in terms of building blocks is that there is a need to expand it to new and existing providers, but so that you can buy an existing building. It is more environmentally friendly. It removes vacancy of a building. It is usually in the centre of a town. It is the best and the quickest way to build capacity at a time when we need almost 50,000 childcare places in the State. I hope that the Minister will consider that for building blocks next year. It would make a huge difference, particularly in rural areas.

I understand that a number of applicants have pulled out of building blocks. They were made the offer and have pulled out for a variety of reasons. I am aware of one large childcare provider that was unable to take up the offer of the building blocks grant. They were desperate to expand but they could not. They cited substantial increases in construction, legal and professional fees since the initial announcement, as well as grant limitations which excluded essential works such as painting, fittings and equipment. They said they would not be able to fund to cover that. That needs to be looked at in terms of the building blocks scheme in 2026.

Lastly, on core funding, it is also regrettable to see an underspend there but I take what the Minister has said in terms of the ERO. Is the Minister taking feedback from providers that are pulling out of core funding?

I know it is always said that it is a small number, but whether it is a small number or a big one, the only people who suffer are parents because in some cases they face extremely high increases in the amount they pay in fees. Whether it is one, ten or 100, given the impact it has on parents and the financial pressure that is put on them, could feedback be sought, if it is not being sought, when a provider pulls out of core funding?