Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It sounds great. As Gaeilge, it would probably even sound better. I salute the staff, management and teams that are there. However, the regulations are huge. For the baby room and the early years, the staff ratios are huge. In national school, you can have one teacher to 32 children. It is not a level playing field. I acknowledge there is unprecedented funding.

It is trickling down to the likes of Naíonra Chaisleáin Nua and Naíonra Chathair Dhún Iascaigh and to English-language playschools and childcare facilities, which make up the majority of them. Obair stairiúil atá á déanamh ag gach ceann acu but they need the supports. They are voluntary boards and they should not be labelled with these issues and lectured to that they are not paying this wage and that wage. They are doing their level best and they are giving excellent tuition and excellent grounding to these daoine óige, from the cradle, literally, and they need to be supported. It is fine to quote figures but the reality on the ground and realpolitik are a different story.

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