Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)

I might return in my next contribution to the last issue the Deputy raised. Regarding capital, we announced a capital scheme in 2023 that was drawn down this year. That will already be delivering additional places. The Deputy is absolutely right regarding existing buildings. The new capital scheme I am set to announce in the next number of weeks will allow community services, in particular, to purchase existing buildings. They might be unused ones, as she mentioned, or buildings that were provided in housing developments. The scheme was designed to be flexible to allow for that. Community services can get the full cost of the buildings for private providers. It is a 50:50 arrangement, which is an appropriate division between the State stepping up with support and private providers bringing some resources themselves.

The Deputy is right on staff funding. In the budget announced yesterday, we have made provision for a pay increase next year. It is dependent on the employment regulation order, ERO, and on us making sure all staff get the benefit of that through a pay increase. The Government has financed two pay increases through an ERO process. They were the first ever mandated pay increases for early learning professionals.

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