Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

First, I have to say very strongly that it is one thing to say we acknowledge it. We need to more than acknowledge it. There has been a significant step change in investment in childcare in the past four years. That will continue as regards the level of it. The State funds nearly 40% of all early learning and care of school-age childcare places across multiple funding rounds. Last year, the supply and management unit was established to have a forward planning and delivery unit to assess demand, plan better and expand public supply. The new planning model also draws on expertise in the Central Statistics Office, early learning and childcare specialists and geographic information system, GIS, mapping to predict the future need for childcare. That all needs to happen and investment needs to be parallel with the planning framework that is being designed. The key issues will be how we sustain and retain people in early childcare in the future-----

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