Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the Members who contributed to the Labour Party's Private Members' business last night, the motion on domestic violence. I commend Senators Moloney and O'Keeffe for proposing and seconding the motion. The debate was comprehensive and the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, responded very well and gave a clear overview of the Government's policy on dealing with domestic violence. I hope that we can have more debates in the future.

I call for a debate, although not today, on the provision of child care. The suggested second year of a free preschool place is a positive one and would be universally welcomed. To be fair, the last government introduced the universal free one year child care initiative, albeit on a part-time basis. A remarkable 95% of parents availed of the scheme. As a parent of young children I know how attractive the new proposal is. It is attractive not only for parents who work outside of the home but also for those who work in the home because it provides a child with a year's free preschool. Early preschool education is very important for a child's development and Minister Quinn stated the same yesterday. I expect that Senators on both sides of the House will support the idea of rolling out a second year of a free school year place. It would greatly benefit children. The one year scheme has already proved popular and people have asked why not have more of the same. We need to cost and provide for the initiative. The proposal is also part of the Government's commitment to child care. It would be good to have an overall debate on the matter.

Last month, the Ministers, Deputies Burton and Fitzgerald, launched the after-school child care scheme. Child care provision after school is a real gap for many parents. The children are no longer in a preschool and will have commenced primary school. Parents wonder how they will provide after school care which is lacking around the country. The after school scheme is an important initiative that was launched by the Government. We need a proper debate on child care but it should not be conducted in an adversarial manner. Instead, we should acknowledge that previous governments have introduced initiatives that are worth supporting and extending. That was the direction that Minister Quinn's comments took yesterday which were also supported by Ministers Fitzgerald and Burton.

I again call for a debate on prison and penal reform. As the House will know, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence published a report on penal reform on 29 March. It would be timely to debate it in the coming weeks given that the Minister for Justice and Equality has published reports on prison conditions and the Joint Irish Prison Service and Probation Service Strategic Plan 2013-2015, which is a service delivery plan. It is very important to see the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service combining to provide a joint plan. It shows the way forward for the system of criminal and penal justice. It is great to see both organisations working together and providing joined-up thinking in how communities and victims are protected but also how offenders are rehabilitated in the system. I ask the Leader for a debate on same.