Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We agree with the Taoiseach's comments about what the service should be, but the reality is this is a private, for-profit sector for child care. That is a fact from which we cannot get away. No matter how we come to this, there is an absence of trained staff and a lack of enforcement standards. There is a weak inspection regime, which has led in this case to the abuse of citizens who happen to be small children.

The Taoiseach did not answer a matter I cannot forget. If there is no inspection in a facility for four years or there is no inspector in regions of the State, how can State funding be given to those projects? A carer looking after a loved one at home is put through a hoop and a person in the community sector trying to get some funding for disadvantaged children or elderly people is also put through a hoop. In this sector there are millions of euro in State funding being put into a system which I accept has many good examples of child care but which is also an example of a private, for-profit operation where the emphasis is on running it like a business, cutting corners and getting the most profit. The children suffer as a result.

Will the Taoiseach stop State funding where there is no inspection, regulation or adequate training? If this concerned any other sector, there would not be a question about this. Why should we put the taxpayers' money into a private, for-profit sector that is not only not providing for our children but in some cases is abusing them?

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