Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Yes, the centre did, but unfortunately that is not uniform practice throughout the country. I want to have the data in the office for analysis. We organised regional seminars to ensure that the officials could outline the proposed scheme, saying that we sought the feedback of the practitioners, whether participants, managers or people in representative bodies. We said we wanted the data and some groups were hostile to this request. I and my officials insisted that we had to have all the data because we wanted, if necessary, to amend the scheme based on up-to-date data. The best decisions are made when the most up-to-date data are available.

Some groups complained to me that the cost of some community child care facilities is prohibitive for people from disadvantaged homes. I want to ensure that nobody will be denied places in a child care facility.

See this speech in context