Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In response to Deputy Mythen, €220 million in core funding went into childcare this year. It should be within the capacity of the sector, given that level of funding, to deal with the issue he raised, although I do not know the details of the individual case.

On Deputy Costello's point, I will talk to the Minister for Education. The move the Minister has made in having an alternative exam is quite a radical shift from the traditional stance in terms of standardisation, assessment and so on. I say that as someone who served in the Department previously. I will talk to the Minister about the Deputy's point on epilepsy but the move that was made, in itself, is very significant.

In response to Deputy Collins, I will ask for that incident to be investigated. I will raise the issue with the HSE and the National Ambulance Service. The Deputy has made a very legitimate point. It is very unacceptable that a woman in a frail condition with a broken hip would have to wait so long to get to hospital.

Regarding the issue raised by Deputy Farrell, I would appeal to all parties to that dispute to utilise the existing labour relations mechanisms to have it resolved.

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