Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I have explained my views to the House. I welcome that we have had a positive debate on the necessity of a programme of preschool and after-school care. We have a number of years in which to progress that programme in an active way, given the fact that the threshold of seven years of age arises from 2014 for new entrants and 2015 and 2016 for existing recipients. It would be a good day's work if our discussions outlined once again the commitment to the necessity of a good system of preschool and after-school care.