Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for being here to take this Topical Issue matter. In February, Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Deputy Mick Barry, Deputy Micheál Martin, Deputy Billy Kelleher, I and others attended a presentation by the Cork Early Years Alliance. It was a very powerful presentation. On a visit to Cork, the Minister had an opportunity to meet with some members of the alliance. It was a stark and frightening presentation. The alliance informed us of the services being provided by 13 different member organisations in terms of early years care for children up to the age of three. There are 348 children in Cork receiving a service from 13 different organisations. These areas have significant disadvantage and in many cases the children involved have complex needs. We are told by the alliance that 233 of these children will lose a service by September. The critical immediate issue is the emergency funding promised by the Minister's Department in respect of the change in the regulations around the qualifications required by the child care workers who are in these services. That is the key immediate issue. I will come back on the long-term issues in a moment.

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