Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If there are cuts to child care and the associated regimes, we will be reminding the Government parties that they were jumping up and down today looking for the opposite.

There is a backlog with regard to Garda clearance.

I have been told it is still trying to clear applications made last February. We were told the waiting time would be shortened but it has to be examined. Should funding be withheld from organisations that have not passed inspection regimes?

The pay scales of those employed in these areas need to be examined. Is JobBridge being exploited? In a previous budget, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, promised investment in child care when she attempted to make cuts to lone parent payments. Where is the child care she promised?

Last week we debated a Bill on animal health and welfare. There was a lot of debate on looking after animals, and rightly so. I feel we examined that issue more closely than we have examined that of child care. We need a much longer and fuller debate on these issues. The Minister has made great reforms. I hope my questions can be addressed.