Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It would be useful if the Minister could furnish me with the reply and the breakdown by county in numerical form as opposed to percentage increase form.

I reiterate the point I made on the movement towards a public model. The Taoiseach, on 11 September, stated, “I want childcare to be part of the public education system”. That is the Taoiseach saying that. He also said there was “more work to be done” around available places and expressed concern about places. I note the Minister’s response and the moves within his Department to try to address capacity issues. However, I hope we hear from him today what he and the Government are seeking to do, based on the Minister's and the Taoiseach’s public commentary, to develop a public model of childcare where the State pays childcare workers.

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