Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom go n-eagróidh an Leas-Cheannaire go dtiocfaidh an Aire Stáit atá cúram aige ar chursaí leanaí isteach go dtí an Teach seo le plé a dhéanamh ar cúram leanaí, go háirithe i gceantair pobail, mar go bhfuil athrú á dhéanamh ar struchtúr na maoin fá choinne cúram leanaí.

Will the Deputy Leader arrange a debate with the Minister of State with special responsibility for children to address a serious issue, of which many Senators will be aware due to the lobbying of the community child care sector? The structure of funding to that sector is being changed and will operate in a tiered system according to the income of parents and the services will receive subventions instead of the current staffing grants. Many families using community child care facilities are on relatively low incomes but do not receive social welfare payments, and, therefore, will not qualify for the new subvention scheme. Without sufficient numbers able to avail of the subvention scheme community child care services will go out of business in many areas or fees will have to be increased for those using the facilities. In one example, the household income is €485 and the cost of child care will increase by 28% from 1 December because of this scheme. This makes a mockery of the Government's claim that the scheme is for the disadvantaged.

We need to debate this matter in the Chamber. The Government needs to step back and listen to the concerns with regard to increasing user fees of those who are providing community child care services. Some community run and owned child care facilities that depend on voluntary assistance will close down.

The Minister for Education and Science could also come to the Chamber to update Members as to why maps provided in primary schools currently include Ireland in the British Isles.