Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

If they want change, then this scheme should be changed because child care is no longer a luxury but rather it is a necessity for thousands of families. Deputy Doherty stated that eleven schemes out of 11,000 were consulted. This is not consultation.

Last Thursday night, the women of Cork spoke at a meeting and they had a common bond of frustration at the proposal before them. They said it would lead to further marginalisation and that many qualified child care workers would lose their jobs. They feared it would be impossible to maintain quality standards of child care and many services would be forced to close down. The community child care facilities play a pivotal role in this debate and they deserve to be recognised. Children are the most important and central focus in this debate.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, to the House. I hope he will talk to Senator Leyden before he gives his speech because he will hear the cogent views of the Member opposite.