Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Ceann Comhairle will remember the old Joni Mitchell song,

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what you've got

Till it's gone ...

That is certainly true of the case of childcare where we realised during the restrictions that have been imposed in Covid just how important childcare, early childhood education and support are. I refer to the social interaction but also the early start that many children, particularly children from disadvantaged areas, are missing at present.

The State has been slow to respond to this. I suppose it is not surprising, given that the Constitution still states that the place of a woman is in the home. We have a lot of ground to make up. I suppose it is understandable that much of the focus in trying to make up that ground has been on standards, enforcement and inspection. There are as many as three bodies charged with that responsibility. That can only get one so far. The real challenge here is how we face up to the problems, that, indeed, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, pointed out, such as high staff turnover, no time for planning and development of programmes, and not being able to hang on to people, particularly highly qualified people, in the sector. These are real issues.

It amazes me, having spent much of my time in the enterprise sector, how a similar number, approximately 4,000, of exporting companies have the support of Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, IDA Ireland and numerous others helping them develop their programme and we have none for a sector that is dealing with 200,000 of our most precious asset for the future.

When will the Minister table draft proposals for the child development agency, which will be crucial in developing leadership, the potential for innovation and better approaches to the Early Start programme and early intervention, a transition from early childhood education to primary school and placements for trainees? There is considerable potential in this regard and I look forward to the Minister's proposals.

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