Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)

I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive reply, which I appreciate. I am certainly struck by the piece regarding the forward planning model, which is something I and other colleagues on the children committee will be looking for more detail on. It would add breadth and meat to the bones of how the programme for Government is going to achieve its ambitious targets with regard to childcare and early years education.

The Minister of State appropriately summed up that the issues are comprehensive. Since becoming the spokesperson for my party on children, I have met many different stakeholders with regard to childcare and early years education. The theme has been consistent throughout those meetings. What we often have from the Government is a commitment to funding, which is to be applauded, but what is lacking is a vision for the future of childcare. If the Minister of State takes one thing away to the Department on my behalf, it is that the children committee, or even a special committee, could be assigned by the Government to support that mapping piece with regard to a vision for the future of childcare and early years education that is cognisant of all of the factors the Minister of State raised in her response being captured. This could come back again, much like Sláintecare has done with regard to healthcare. If something similar could be captured in the life of the Thirty-fourth Dáil, it would be a real opportunity for us as a cross-party initiative.

I again thank the Minister of State and the Government for such a comprehensive reply and for the opportunity to speak on this issue. It is greatly appreciated.

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