Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of children living in poverty, which was also raised, rightly, on the Opposition benches. We had a good debate yesterday on child care and what it provides, particularly for children from disadvantaged areas. The Minister for Education and Skills attended the House yesterday and child care and preschool education come within her brief. An intergovernmental group has been established to bring together all those dealing with child care, health care and education. In this regard, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs should co-ordinate their efforts concerning the report of that intergovernmental group.

In schools, there is one inspection by the Department of Education and Skills, while it is proposed that there should be two inspections for preschools. Heretofore, only child care and welfare facilities were inspected. Now, however, the Minister for Education and Skills is rightly setting up a new inspectorate to inspect the educational side, but the two should be joined together. I am seeking a full debate on these matters.

We had a good, fruitful debate with the new Minister yesterday, but I want a further debate to ensure that inspections are co-ordinated and synchronised. We should also debate national payscales and continuing professional development for preschool teachers. The best way of taking a child out of poverty is to ensure that they are able to get, and that every one of them gets, a preschool education.

It has been said that the single parent benefit was linked to the provision of preschool facilities, especially for deprived children. A previous speaker referred to a chasm of disconnection, but we cannot afford to have a chasm of amnesia either. We do not want to cut anybody's benefits. Some €7.5 billion was paid off our debt of €180 billion this year.