Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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499. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views that Ireland's current investment in preschool education and care, at 0.2% of gross domestic product, is sufficient; the level it should be at; the steps that are being taken to achieve same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9153/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I, like other Cabinet members, would like to be in a position to increase our investment in pre-school edcuation and care to be in line with the OECD average but this is very much dependent on resource availability. Whether we are achieving optimum outcomes for children wtih our current level of investment is being analysed by an inter-Departmental group set up by my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. My Department is represented on this group which will examine options for investment in early childhood care and education for 0-6 year old children and after school care for the older child. The inter-Departmental group is expected to report back by the Summer.