Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There can be no question that the provision of the free preschool year was a positive move. It was, as was understood at the time of its introduction, a step on the road. It is well-documented that many parents want to keep their child in preschool for a second year but the reality is that they cannot afford to do so. There are consequences, accordingly, not just for the child but for the parent or parents. We also know that children with special needs would greatly benefit from a second year of support from a special needs assistant.

The Minister may not be familiar with the Donegal County Childcare Committee's Indecon research report entitled, Supporting working families - Releasing a brake on economic growth, but I refer to it. The report highlighted that such a move would have a significant economic benefit. I emphasise that because it is critically important. While the Minister's initial response is in terms of what would be the outlay on its introduction, we must also look at the significant return on this proposition. In real terms, the return would be a multiple of that investment over time. Will the Minister consider prioritising the roll-out of a universal second free preschool year over the remaining time of this Dáil?

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