Tony Mulcahy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the early childhood scheme, and particularly the free school year, I am aware that representatives of the Association of Childhood Professionals will be protesting here next week. Senator Keane will be addressing them, as far as I am aware. The pay under the early childhood scheme is €62.50 for 15 hours contact work with children for 38 weeks, or 183 days, per year in the school calendar. That works out at €4.17 per hour. Those concerned do not get paid for the raft of compliance documentation they now have to fill out to adhere to some of the regulations associated with these schemes and services. Each member of staff must have a qualification at FETAC level 5. The majority of people running the schemes must have a degree or diploma.

Our councils have a role to play in this regard. There are many crèches and child care facilities operating in — dare I say it — the black economy that do not have the correct planning permission. The Minister, Deputy Reilly, should probably come to the House to explain how he is dealing with this issue, or how he intends to make progress on it.

The operators of a certain scheme who wrote to me stated the service currently has two children diagnosed with special needs. One needs one-to-one care at all times and was allocated only six hours per week. The scheme pays for one of its own staff for the other three days, covering the extra nine hours per week. The second little boy was allocated only three hours after Christmas and he was diagnosed as having special needs early last year. He gets one session per week from Enable Ireland. As a parent, I believe a significant problem is surfacing in this area and the Government needs to address it. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Reilly, come to the House to give us a presentation on it.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of emigration. Will the 20,000 public servants being let go in Northern Ireland be emigrating?