Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, to the House. I believe he probably has the most important job in the country because he is dealing with our young children. We must make a major investment in our young people for the future. The Government takes its responsibility for young people very seriously and their futures depend on it. We have been late starters in this regard. I take on board the criticism, some of which we deserve, that in past years we did not invest in young people, children, crèches and so forth as we should have.

The position of Minister of State with responsibility for children was created ten years ago. When I worked in the health services, there were no services for children. We have been developing this new service in past years. It is an expensive service but I believe in the long term there is more value for money investing in services for young children. We have made some gains. I was a member of a local authority in the Dublin region and there were no playgrounds for children until a few years ago. There has been significant investment in play areas for young children at local authority level. There was also no provision by local authorities for crèches in new developments. Local authorities insisted on the provision of child care facilities in new housing developments over a certain size. This was an important contribution from local authorities in this area.

A high standard of safety rightly has been created in all child care establishments and crèches. Working mothers and fathers must feel comfortable that their children are being looked after by the best people and in the safest environment.

It is important to recognise the substantial allocation of €575 million to child care services in the budget. When we are dealing with scarce resources, as we are now, it is one area we should hone in on and ensure the Minister of State's office is looked at favourably for investment in the future. In these difficult times, we are restricted by budgetary restraints. However, like the old age pensioners and the health services, child care is a most important priority. What we invest now in child care we will see a return on in the future. The young people are the future of the country.

It is important that the Minister of State ensures the resources he has available are spent wisely on behalf of the taxpayer and imaginatively. Imagination in child care provision is necessary, especially with the current budget restraints. We can all crib about being confined to budget but imagination and creativity could go a long way in child care provision.

I believe the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, will make a difference in his portfolio. He is a young father and knows the importance of the safety of his children when he leaves them in someone else's care. He must be ambitious for the future expansion of the child care programme. Senator Mary White said we must invest in and expand the programme but also examine where we can get better value for money. We also must look out for the less well-off in our communities. I remember a time when areas such as Ballyogan had no crèches. They do now. The Minister of State is improving the services, something on which I commend him. There is much work still to be done and he will have to fight his corner for moneys for his office.