Dr. Fergal Lynch:

I will deal with the earlier point that the Deputy made about staffing and then address Miesian Plaza, if that is okay. With regard to staffing, there has been some criticism in the school-age childcare area of the new ratio of 12:1. I stress that the ratio was recommended by an expert group of stakeholders in the area. As I recall, they argued for 11:1 rather than 12:1. Some 85% of the 400 services that have registered already reach that requirement. In other words, while people said that we would never be able to afford it or achieve this, 85% of the school-age childcare services are already meeting that. The other 15% do not. I have some questions in my mind about claims that this will substantially increase their cost, which I will put to them. The Deputy quite rightly referred to pay for workers in the sector being at an average of €11.93 an hour. If one requires one member of staff per 12 children, even if the charge per hour is €5, that would be €60 compared to a €12 cost for employment. I think a ratio of 12:1 is good for children and for the system but I do not see how that would create the sort of financial difficulties described.