Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

In other words, we should target those parts of the community in which the school drop-out rate is highest. We know where these are because there have been sufficient reports to almost identify where every child is but we are not doing anything about it. We need to intervene early and support poor families and lone parents. God knows there has been enough talk in recent weeks about lone parents. We could put in place a whole set of initiatives. For example, in Tallaght one could support lone parents in their homes, parents who are struggling with low or no incomes or those with a family history of social dependency. However, the most important factor would be that people would have access from day one to high quality pre-school and crèche facilities in the community. The only way in which this will be done is by spending money but it will be an investment well worth making and it will pay off. However, this investment is not being made and, if that continues, we will remain stuck with the same problem recycling itself over and over again.

If we are to prevent the cycle repeating itself, we must consider the assistance we are giving communities, the head start being given to a child and the support being given to the family. In purely economic terms, one must consider the contribution that a particular child could make as an adult in his or her own family and community. When one considers the cost of social deprivation and poverty to this economy and community, is it not worth examining this proposal? This is where this programme comes into its own as it could deliver our objectives.

The equal opportunities child care programme was always supposed to be seen in the context of targeted interventions, particularly for children from disadvantaged communities. A town such as Nenagh would not have the same problem as some of the really deprived areas of our cities which are suffering major deprivation. The child care centre in Nenagh also gives huge support to children from those families through other initiatives, such as the ADM funded initiatives. That offers the chance to break down the cycle.

I appeal to the Minister to examine this programme, particularly staffing grants. He should consider giving full funding to those areas that need it. He should also talk about sustainability in the long term rather than the short term. I understand from somebody in this sector that the Department has issued letters stating that the centres must be sustainable by September 2005. Is that correct? If so, that is too short a term. It will take years for many of the facilities to be up and running. The facility in Nenagh is working well but centres in many other parts of the country will require far more support than they currently get.

I have no wish to run down this programme; it is a great programme. Looked at in the context of what is required and the fact that it started from nothing, I must acknowledge, as the OECD does, that the structured approach that was put in place, that is, the county child care committees and the committees involving all stakeholders, is a good one. Setting it up was a laborious process and it took long enough. However, it is in place now and is working well. The right people are on the committees. The co-ordinated structure is in place but, again, it only scratches the surface of what is needed. It needs to be working better, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

I am informed that the centre in Tallaght, which is due to open in March, is in danger of not opening because of underfunding for staff and the capping of the staffing grant. The centre simply cannot make up the additional income needed to sustain it. It is a scandal. The centre is a state-of-the-art facility and it is an integral part of how Tallaght is developing. It is also supported by the local authority. Will the Minister give his attention to that? I have received letters about this from people in all parts of the country. One letter is from a group in Charleville that is severely strapped for funding due to the staffing grant problem. This problem is arising everywhere and the Minister must respond to it.

I have run out of time. I will raise this issue again, under a number of headings. As Senator White said, this matter does not belong to one Department but to many. I intend to find some way of targeting every Department on this issue. I have received great support from the Leader of the House in facilitating this approach. I am looking forward to a rolling debate and I certainly look forward to seeing results.