Mr. Damien Peelo:

There are multiple models of childcare and early development out there that need to be supported including the community and co-operative model of childcare that the Chairman mentioned. That is something in which there has been under-investment and has not been supported in the past while, and which we would very much recommend.

My final point on this is that when the State invests public funding, we need to avoid the pitfalls of creating a two-tier system as we have done with education and health and we do not want that within the early years. We have got to find ways where we do not create a system where if one pays, one will get a better service. We must ensure it is equal for everybody at the point of access.

On the question the Chairman asked me around recommendations Nos..15 and 16 and the universal basic income, I will defer to Ms Roche on that because she would have greater speciality in that area. Treoir is asking that social welfare rates are benchmarked against the minimum essential standard of living which has already been calculated by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, which has done exceptional work in this area. That is what we would say needs to be looked at because the current gap between the minimum standard and what is currently is available to one parent families is €82 a week.

It is unacceptable that €82 a week is the gap between what is minimally accepted to survive and Ms Roche will comment on this matter.