Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The final comment about the new strand of funding is very important. I tabled this question because we were contacted last week by people when they heard the announcement of €54.5 million in funding to tackle disadvantage. While the funding is welcome, talk of a garden at the Bloom festival angered some people. I am talking about a very good and committed early learning and early years sector that has been very much engaged and that welcomed the core funding. Some of these people have been at this for years and are among those we spoke about when there was a welcome change in the hours for ECCE and when schools hours were taken into account. Will the Minister expand on the new strand of funding? Is it separate from the €54.5 million? Some very good and positive people with great solutions are engaged in this. It would be really beneficial for the Department to speak to them if there is to be engagement with the sector.

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