Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like many others, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I used child care for our children. Having facilities as good as they are today allowed us to work. Had they not been available, our careers would have been in trouble.

Many people are sending children to school too early. Preschool is very important. Child care does not mean just childminding. The people who work in the sector are early educators and will intervene at an early stage if there are issues in terms of speech or other matters. Sometimes they spot issues at an early stage, before others do, and they can then be dealt with successfully.

I discussed this issue with many people in our area. One woman told me she has been working in the sector for 30 years and has a very good school. She has level 6 Montessori qualifications and FETAC level 6. However, she does not qualify for the higher capitation grant. This is unfair because someone who has been in business in the sector for 30 years, who loves the work and has a high level of qualifications should have qualified for the higher capitation grant under a so-called grandfather clause. The rules are unfair to the people who have carried the industry to its current point and made it as successful as it is.

On the inspection of premises, I have received feedback that inspections are varied. It seems that one inspector shows preference for some items over another and when there is a change in inspectors, there is a change in emphasis. We need to have greater standardisation in inspections in order that people are moving on a common path and are not subject to the whims of someone's opinion. I would also like to broaden the type of people who can conduct inspections. From what I understand, it is mainly public health nurses who are involved.

Perhaps we should open it more broadly to others with degrees or qualifications in the area. We must recognise people in the child care professions as professionals. They do great jobs and it is unfair of people just to see it as child care. We have a fabulous education system right from the start. As I mentioned, these people allow us to continue our careers.

For many people, child care is something that is required for a very short period but it is quite a financial burden. I encourage the Minister to consider a second free preschool year, which could be very valuable. It would send out all the right signals. We should remember that we must encourage people to have families because a birth rate that is suitable for the country will ensure that the elderly population can be catered for in time. We need a strong population and many countries are failing to have a large enough population to provide the resources required for elderly people in the years to come. There are children who are graduates of these facilities and I wish them well.

I commend the current Minister and his predecessor on the work done in this new Department. They have really put a strong stamp on it. This Government is serious about children. I wish the Minister well in his continued work in the role.

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