One of the challenges facing the Government is achieving a step change in early childhood policy. The current policy is hampering children and frustrating parents and many providers and staff. Does the Tánaiste envisage there being some initiatives in budget 2022? More importantly, when will we see the childhood service development agency and the beginning of recognition in city and county planning of the needs of early childhood? When will we see public assets being more widely available to fill gaps in early childhood services?

I thank the Deputy for his question. Throughout the pandemic, the State has offered significant supports to childcare services across the country, and rightly so. The childcare sector stepped up, particularly last January, and kept services open for the most vulnerable children.

The Deputy is right. The expert group on the funding model will report in the coming months and set out how to ensure important public investment in and public management of our childcare services. I will engage on the funding issue with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, in the context of my Department's bid in the Estimates process.

Regarding an agency, as the Deputy knows, we initiated a review of the operational model across the childcare sector last year. Its report will come to us in November. I will be happy to update the House once that report arrives.