Ms Bernie McNally:

Mr. Wolfe might answer the questions on maintenance, the 90% figure, the tax year and the mortgage. Deputy Ó Laoghaire made a fair point about capital investment and the Minister will be seeking further capital investment as we have to increase capacity. She has already negotiated some capital for 2017 and hopes to announce that shortly.

Another question was on sustainability for children who used to get 40 hours but now only get 15 hours, and the risk to community services of reduced income. The affordable child care scheme will give a huge opportunity for increased income because there will be more people going back to work and availing of the scheme. We hope that, over time, it will increase income generation for services. Children aged up to three years are a concern for us and we have heard of cases around the country where people are focusing on the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme because it is guaranteed income. The affordable child care scheme gives higher subsidy rates which reflect those ratios and recognise that baby runs need a higher level of subsidy. We hope that the early years capital funding for 2017 includes some incentivisation and support for the under threes. In the past we have focused on ECCE.

Senator Clifford-Lee asked about vulnerable children in emergency temporary accommodation. The Minister announced a new scheme, sponsored by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, so that such children can access the CCS scheme as it exists under the affordable child care scheme.