Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

However, in the instance of legal separations, divorces, bereavement and so on, this measure also will affect people. Consequently, I cannot reconcile the Minister's comments that she does not wish to proceed with these changes unless child care alternatives are in place with the fact this legislation will be passed next Monday and will take effect from 3 May. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, now holds a senior Cabinet position and rightly so. The previous Government did have what is known as a super junior Minister for children at the Cabinet table who had his own budget and introduced the final stages of the free pre-school year. When is the Government proposing to report back on child care alternatives? The Minister said she will not implement this without the provision of additional child care. What date has she set in her mind as to when the Government will propose these additional places?

We have effectively confirmed here today that these changes happen from 3 May. What the Minister said in the Dáil when she introduced the Bill-----