Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

We have had the opportunity to work, now it is the mothers' turn. Despite the investment and successes of the EOCP, there is no doubt we still have a long way to go in the challenges that face both the development of child care and child care itself. The EU, under the Barcelona Summit, requires us to reach a specific ratio of child care places by the end of 2010. These targets differentiate between the younger child, in respect of whom there should be one place for every three children by 2010, and children requiring early education. Regarding early education, we must provide for 90% of children between the ages of three and the statutory schoolgoing age. I was struck when I read the document on the equal opportunities child care programme 2000-06 by the number of women who are now working as opposed to the number of women who were working in 1997. The figure has increased by 32%, from 588,707.