Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The Government's investment of some €1 billion over the last decade in the development of a child care infrastructure means that it is possible to introduce a free pre-school year and be confident that the overwhelming majority of parents who wish to access a pre-school place for their children will be able to do so.

The introduction of a free pre-school year is a highly significant step in the development of Ireland's early childhood care and education policy.

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