Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The idea of the review is obviously to examine the two schemes available at the moment, but I have made it quite clear that developing more supports for child care will require additional investment. That is the reality. I am facing a situation in which 60% was taken from the child care budget and I am working to build up that budget again. That is what I have done. I have particularly focused on training, mentoring and quality supports, because what parents want is high-quality child care. It is very important we put that in place and build up the quality available in child care settings. The sector wants that and I want that. There will be consultation on the review. It has just started and it is being scoped out, and I will give the House further details on the progress of that review when I have them. It is important to review the schemes.

It is equally important to maintain the free preschool year and build towards a second year. The way to build towards a second year is by ensuring that the quality is there and that the staff are trained, and the legislation I recently brought to this House ensures that there will be higher standards and that people will have to do training. The learner fund I announced yesterday means that there will be higher levels of training in the sector, subsidised by the Government.

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