Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I must beg to differ with her on an issue already broached with her by some of my colleagues, namely, the advisory group and the acceptance of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers. The issue here is that none of my Wexford constituent providers was contacted in regard to who should join the advisory group. The Minister will find that Seas Suas which, I am informed, has 103 members is partaking in the advisory group. Leaving out the federation which represents some 1,400 members will not result in reflecting what the providers require. I would caution the Minister that this could turn out to be another fiasco, as happened with regard to what was supposed to be provided for front-line workers. I ask the Minister to reconsider that.

Can the Minister tell us why early childhood providers have been excluded? The Minister said they were informed by the sector in regard to representation. Wexford constituency providers are telling me they were not consulted. I ask the Minister to, if she can, tell the House why they were excluded.

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