Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I support the calls for a debate on child care and I commend the Government on the major funding provided for child care. Eery successful group in Galway has received approximately €1 million. However, I am concerned that there is now talk of putting a limit of €1.1 million on all child care projects, something with which I disagree. While expensive child care proposals are submitted, they deserve our support. Local authorities have a role to play in providing sites for child care centres because it is not easy for a group to get money and then be told it cannot spend it on purchasing a site for a child care centre.

I also support calls for the NRA to provide rest areas on motorways. This debate has been active for some time. Other Senators mentioned some facts relating to this issue. On this morning's edition of "Morning Ireland", it was pointed out that the NRA could not name any other country in Europe in the same situation as Ireland. I understand a small country like Luxembourg has rest areas every 15 to 20 minutes apart on major roads. It is time that we had a debate on this issue and the NRA had a change of view.