Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On the point Deputy Kerrane makes, in his public utterances I perceive that the Minister is very cautious about saying anything overt about the need for a public, State-funded model. We all acknowledge the incremental progress that has been made as regards the supports provided by the State. Where is the Minister's thinking, based on the Taoiseach's comments, around the idea that we align early-years and preschool provision with primary and post-primary education, whereby the State intervenes to pay staff within the system; the providers remain as they are or retain their autonomy, so to speak, but the sector is funded by the State; terms and conditions of employment are robust; there is not this constant attrition of workers within the model as it stands; and the model is formalised in a way that ensures that it becomes robust and part of the education system into the future?

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