Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will pick the Minister up on two points. Concerns focused on the minimum ratio of 1:12. Do I understand her correctly that there will be scope for expansion in this? Is that because the ratio applies to younger children or will it be applied for all attending after-school services?

I welcome the regulations and the legislation, but I have a slight concern about the ratio, not as it relates to 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. pick-ups, but as it relates to older children who are coming out of classes with a ratio of 1:26. Is there a way of phasing the regulations in so that, if certain childcare providers exceed the 1:12 ratio, they will be able to change that over a period of six or 12 months?

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