Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I am pleased to have the opportunity to say a few words in this important debate. Like many other speakers I welcome the free preschool year. We have proposed it and looked for it and are pleased that it is now in place. People on the Government side have said that this motion was put down because of the local elections and that it is a vote getting exercise. It is not. The motion was put down because there is widespread concern among those who use the facilities. That is why Deputy Olwyn Enright put down this motion and I commend her for it. There is real fear and worry because of the way this was announced in the budget when nobody knew that it was coming. People were not consulted.

I thank the Minister of State for receiving the deputations from my constituency. He saw at first hand the difficulties my colleagues are encountering in running the facilities and heard the concerns of the county child care committee. When it was announced in the budget without prior consultation the providers experienced fear and worry. Deputy Clune spoke about the inherent cost of running a business. I was canvassing some nights ago and came across an individual in Clerihan who has invested a considerable sum in a business but who does not know the future of that business. People like doing what they are doing and those involved in child care are trained to do so and are genuinely committed to it. They have been trained and have invested in their careers. Planning guidelines in respect of many housing estates, villages and towns nationally stipulated that child care facilities should be provided as part of new developments. People invested in them, yet the Government changed its mind without consulting anybody. This is wrong. If anything emerges from this debate tonight, it will be that changes have been made without consulting the people.

Many men and women throughout the country are losing their jobs, have large mortgage repayments or are in other difficult circumstances because of the economic downturn. Preschool education is now part of the education system as a whole. It is a fact of life that young children need to go to preschool to prepare for primary school and there is no doubt it is better for them. Anybody who sends his or her children to preschool will note that they benefit from it. We should encourage it. The Government does not have a planned approach, nor has it adhered to the proper guidelines or determined what should be done and what is best for the children.

When the Minister of State is contributing, he should understand the needs and concerns of the people providing preschool services. While he must consider the difficult economic circumstances we face, the reality is that money spent on meeting the educational needs of children is money well invested. When this country was doing well over recent eyras, it was because of our education system and the manner in which we prepared people. Part of the preparation involves preschool education. When the Minister of State is contributing, he should note the considerable worries and fears of the parents and preschool education providers.

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