Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is saying that we should consider it progress that the registration process, which commenced more than 12 months ago, is still not complete. Both service users and service providers are anxiously awaiting the publication of the regulations, which the Minister is now saying will happen by the end of this month. An early years strategy was promised more than two and a half years ago but we are still awaiting it. Will the Minister indicate when that strategy will be published? In terms of the recruitment of additional inspectors, the most recent quarterly meeting with the Minister's predecessor confirmed that there are still areas in this country where no inspector is in place. Can the Minister confirm today that every area now has a fully qualified inspector overseeing preschool settings?

There is a great deal more I could say if time permitted. Certainly, there is a lot more work to be done. I ask that this matter receive the urgent attention it warrants.

See this speech in context