Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. Throughout the pandemic, the State has offered significant supports to childcare services across the country, and rightly so. The childcare sector stepped up, particularly last January, and kept services open for the most vulnerable children.

The Deputy is right. The expert group on the funding model will report in the coming months and set out how to ensure important public investment in and public management of our childcare services. I will engage on the funding issue with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, in the context of my Department's bid in the Estimates process.

Regarding an agency, as the Deputy knows, we initiated a review of the operational model across the childcare sector last year. Its report will come to us in November. I will be happy to update the House once that report arrives.

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