Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I certainly take the Deputy's point. He does not have to convince me of the importance of early intervention and support and quality child care. The situation has improved greatly in recent years and the ECCE programme, which 94% of children are attending, as I said, is certainly beneficial. I would like to see more resources in the area. In July, at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, I indicated my objective over the coming years to seek to develop further the free preschool year in early childhood care and education. As the Deputy well knows, we are in an extraordinarily difficult financial situation and my Department is subject to the expenditure review, as are all other Departments. However, I would like to work towards further development as resources permit. It would certainly be beneficial. I will discuss the matter with the Department of Education and Skills, but there are serious fiscal constraints on all of us and I must operate within them.

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