Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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I will start with something very positive. The changes for children in early education are welcomed by many parents. I know it is not enough for many parents - I get that - but it is a great starting point for the work of the children's committee, this committee, and others - mostly women - who are very passionate about childcare and early education in general. I know the grants for parents are really welcome. My little girl, Lacey, is in the local early years education service in Ardara. She has come on in leaps and bounds. She is three years old. She has not been diagnosed with any special additional needs but the staff get her. I have said to them that she does not like loud sounds and that she questions a lot. The development work that these early educators do with our children is absolutely incredible. As a society, we have come a long way through the work of the Department and other people as well. The homework clubs, which I did not hear the witnesses talk about, are really important. These supports are provided to children who are in primary school. I have a little girl in the homework club. It is an after-school service. She always gives out to me and says, "Mammy, it is not a homework club, it is after-school." She gets a hot a meal and Lacey gets a hot meal in the early education service as well.

Space is still a big problem and that is what I want to touch on. What happens to children who cannot get spaces in early education services? We know that Traveller children do not take up early education. How can we court Traveller parents to take up early education opportunities for our children?

I would like to make another point about early education, based on my own experience. If another two children's services were opened in Ardara, County Donegal, they would be packed to capacity. It is unfortunate that there is not a place for every child. We should make it mandatory that children are entitled to free early education. In light of the importance of early education, this should be a given within the country. I welcome that we are moving towards this model as a country and I welcome the supports in place for parents. Not enough children are getting spaces.

We are leaving children with additional special needs out when it comes to early education.

There is a big gap in primary school, but there is an even bigger gap and fewer people when it comes to supporting children with additional needs. How can we tackle that?