Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is why today's debate is really important. We need much greater public awareness and policy awareness about the kind of research that is emerging and can save Governments money. It is clear that if we work with young children, particularly those who are most at risk, in an effective manner, they will not go down the path of getting into trouble with addictions or dropping out of school, a problem that was mentioned by Senator Healy Eames. While this research is very convincing, it is difficult at a time of economic challenge to put in place the resources in that would make a difference to such children. If we do not provide those resources, however, the cost to the children in question will be much greater. As Senator Keane said, there are savings to be made if we approach this in the right way. I think that is the message from today.

I welcome this debate. We need to continue it, particularly in the context of the budgetary discussions later in the year. We must ascertain how we can move towards the kinds of services we need and how we can get the funding for them. Obviously, that will have to be done on an incremental basis.

It does need to be rigorously evaluated, but it is possible for us to identify immediately the quality aspects we need to improve in the provision of early years education. With a relatively little financial input, we could make quite a difference to the outcomes for vulnerable children. Equally, we have the debate about whether something should be universal or selective. I was very pleased to be able to maintain the universal aspect, as Senator Terry Leyden noted, of the preschool year. The ideal would be to have a second preschool year. There would be staff training issues connected to this, as well as quality issues which the early years strategy group is examining.

Senator Katherine Zappone asked me about whether the early years strategy would be able to suggest a model for the services integrating and working well together. The best place for that to be happen would be through the Child and Family Support Agency. The agency will be examining the linkages needed between the early years sector and services under the agency in the same way as we need to integrate youth services. We need a seamless integration of all of these services. There has been fragmentation. Parents and early years services can be helped by working with the Child and Family Support Agency which I am sure will address that issue when the report is finalised around June or July.