Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes, it looked to have a subsidised universal scheme and was in part geared towards the meetings the means of parents, but it also sought to lengthen the pre-school year by a further five weeks. The Government should really have done this. Having a 38 week pre-school year causes a problem for parents, as well as for those who work in the sector.

I am coming to the end of my allocated time and could say much more. I speculate, but I have a sense that the public's mood about the budget is one of relief that they were not mugged again. People are saying that at least the Government did not take anything from them. However, they are certainly not jubilant at the prospect of receiving a fiver, if they are lucky.

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