There are a significant number of parents who cannot get places in the childcare sector in Kilkenny. It is a serious issue for all concerned. I wrote to the Minister and got a very poor response. There needs to be a strong Government response to provide such places. Likewise, with regard to ASD units, schools are expressing interest, they want to have a unit and there is a demand, yet the Government, the Minister, the Department or whoever is responsible is not responding in the way they should. We need to look after our children in both of these categories. As I said, the parents are under severe pressure. I ask that action be taken.

On the childcare issue, I know the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, in recent weeks allocated two lots of funding to address the issue in regard to capacity. I will raise the issue that the Deputy has raised with regard to Kilkenny. The issue of ASD places was discussed at the Cabinet subcommittee on Monday. It is a priority that no child will be without a place by September.