Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

I thank the Deputy and I hear what he has said. He spoke about vision. What I can say is that the Government is committed to building an affordable, high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare system. Although the Deputy said it is not enough, the programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase State-owned early learning and childcare facilities to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand. Some early scoping work has been carried out to explore options to introduce a segment of public provision. This will require much more detailed and extensive policy development and design in order to progress to implementation stage, having regard to the wider emerging policy context as set out in the programme for Government.

The Department funds 30 city or county childcare committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 city or county childcare committees can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need. Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local city or county childcare committee for assistance.

I hope the response has been of some assistance to the Deputy.

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