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

Given the legacy economic issues we inherited and the requirement to borrow €1 billion per month, I was very pleased last year to succeed in ring-fencing funding for the proposed child and family agency to the tune of €600 million, which includes the inspection budget. In addition, I secured the additional €9 million necessary to retain the universality of the ECCE scheme, as well as an additional €6 million for child care services. I have maintained funding in this sector, and secured additional funding in particular areas, at a difficult financial time in order to ensure the sustainability of existing services, including universal eligibility for the ECCE scheme.

Having said that, I accept that the issues outlined today necessitate action. We need to ring-fence a portion of investment to tackle training issues and build on the various initiatives we have discussed.