Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I am sticking with the statements but it is important to bear in mind that we should hear solutions in the House rather than criticisms. Too many people are criticising various organisations but do very little themselves. I would prefer to see a more hands-on approach and proposed solutions to matters under discussion in the House, whether legislation, guidelines or whatever. It is important to take such an approach and to take responsibility for it. The Minister of State has done this since he came to office and he has highlighted the importance of child care and what we are doing. Much work has been done in this regard in terms of facilities for child care.

The Minister of State has funded the pre-school year during hard times, a very important first step to ensure we have good facilities in place and that our children can get a good start when they begin at school. The pre-school year is very important. The take-up of the pre-school year has been positive and we must ensure it increases. I refer to the facilities on which money has been spent during the past 12 to 18 months. The spending has taken place during difficult times and we had to borrow the money. However, I believe it is an investment in our children. We have borrowed the money to ensure they get better education and facilities and it is important we continue to do so.

The Ombudsman for Children has been critical of the Minister's office and that is no harm. It is important that the Ombudsman does her job and examines what is taking place in child care to establish if there is any area not fully in line with how we should handle things in the HSE. As someone with some experience in this regard, I maintain the HSE will need to tighten up its organisation in the area of child care. There is a job for the Minister of State to do in this regard. I refer to the figures quoted by the Minister of State of 5,100 children in foster care, which is very impressive. If a child cannot live within his or her own family, foster care is one of the better options. Foster parents are wonderful people. They are the unsung heroes who take in children and ensure they have a normal life. They make sure very few children are in the care of the State and that there are proper checks and balances within the care system. I hear very few complaints about foster care. It is probably the better way to go to ensure children are well looked after.

An increase of 80% in the HSE budget for 2010 and an expansion of the child care service are commendable, when one considers the cutbacks that have had to be made. That is a very important point.