Last week I raised the issue of childcare in this House, and Labour Party Senators put down a motion calling for universal access to childcare and for the Government to ensure that every child will have an early years place. We were disappointed that the Government put down a countermotion in the Seanad. However, among other things, the Government countermotion called for a transition to a universal public childcare system. That is very welcome. We know that it is sorely needed by many parents and families across the country. The Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality has also called for it. Indeed, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Gender Equality will be publishing its report on that tomorrow. The real problem remains a lack of spaces in childcare facilities. Constituents tell me every week about their difficulties in seeking to access a place in an early years setting. People in my own constituency cannot even get onto waiting lists for crèches in the area because there are so few spaces. What is the Government going to do to address the issue of the shortage of places in childcare settings around the country?

The issue here is the new core funding model. Our aim, in introducing the core funding model, is to make sure that the provision of service is viable for providers and that staff have good terms and conditions. We have seen a lot of progress in that regard with the new employment regulation order. I acknowledge the role of SIPTU in the Big Start campaign in that respect. We want to ensure that childcare is affordable for parents and that children get the best quality service that can possibly be provided. We have seen a step change in investment in childcare over the past two years as a Government. I believe that will make a difference in relation to supply. We are very much aware of the tightness of supply in certain parts of the country in particular. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is working with his officials and the sector to fully implement the Government's new policy on childcare to provide that investment and make sure that we increase capacity across the country.