When the Taoiseach took office in December, he stated his intention to end child poverty, establishing a child poverty unit in his Department. Crucial to any work on this absolutely vital issue is ensuring an adequate supply of quality affordable childcare and early years education for all children. I want to know specifically how the Government will address the severe shortage of preschool and early years places across many communities. As just one example, I raised with the Taoiseach the research from Young People at Risk, a group of childcare professionals and others operating under the north-east inner city task force. This group found that one in four children in the north-east inner city is without any place in early years education. That chimes with my experience in my constituency of Dublin Bay South. Every week, I hear from parents who are distressed at being unable to find any affordable childcare or early years education places for their children. How can we ever hope to turn the tide of disadvantage if we do not get this right? What can we see from the Government by way of action on this?

That unit has been established in the Taoiseach's office. I agree with the Deputy that investment in the early years is crucial with regard to child poverty and also with regard to children's chances for the rest of their lives. People learn more before the age of three than they do in the rest of their lives so we have to resource provision in that period as much as we can. I refer to developmental childcare and early years education and to other targeted measures, including supports provided through social welfare schemes targeted at children in low-income families to support their development. The budget will support a reduction of up to 25% in childcare fees. There are two issues, namely, expanding the availability of places and the question of affordability for parents.