Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I could not agree more with the Deputy. In the context of my Department's spend, I am delighted that developing a more sustainable, affordable and quality child care system, particularly regarding prevention and early intervention, is second only to the expenditure for Tusla. For the past 15 years, in my professional life I have been a crusader and campaigner for prevention and early intervention, encouraging that kind of investment. With the likes of area-based childhood programmes etc., we have had to draw on philanthropic support and that may not be as much of a possibility in future. That should not represent a barrier to us finding adequate investment, especially for earlier years.

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