Dr. Deiric Ó Broin:

Regarding the article 48 checks, responsibility for that is moving from Pobal to the local authorities on a phased basis, if my memory serves me right. The first four will go in January 2019 and that process will roll on again and that will continue over the year. That was a decision for the Department. To take up Deputy Kenny's point on whether the local authorities are the appropriate place for this, my understanding is the local authorities were always the appropriate place for the article 48 checks to be carried out. Pobal, historically, had an involvement through its involvement with LEADER but the article 48 checks were to go to the local authorities. The Deputy asked a related question about building capacity and training for the local authorities. That is an ongoing process and Pobal has been involved in that. I have seen that from my own involvement through local community development committees, LCDCs.

On the Deputy's query about supervision or inspection visits of childcare facilities, that issue was raised in the feedback and engagement process. We would have a number of people on the board who come from a community childcare space and it is an issue they have flagged also. It is in the process of being addressed. We will see a more flexile regime in place. I would refer to my statement. We identify what we consider the minimum requirements. We are not trying to create a burden for organisations. This feeds back to one of Senator Coffey's points. We come from the community sector and most of us have a significant involvement in it. We are not trying to create extra work or difficulties for organisations and individuals in the sector. We have a role to balance the burdens we place on organisations because of the funds that are going to them. We believe they are appropriate and proportionate but it is a constant evolution. Even during the past year, if we consider the European level data requirements, our local organisations had not even thought about that issue three years ago. I know from organisations in which I have been involved on a day-to-day basis, that two to three months was spent earlier in 2017, as well as some time spent later in that year, completely reorganising the communications system to deal with the general data protection regulation, GDPR. Many of the burdens in organisations arise on a regular basis. We, as a board and an organisation, strive to reduce to the best of our ability the burden of administration on organisations, and that is definitely one of my priorities.

The Deputy's final question was on the cost. That is a matter of administrative detail on which I would ask him to engage with the chief executive officer. If it is okay, we will go through the costs and come back with that.