I want to raise the early years sector with the Taoiseach today. Much has been made of the Government's failure to live up to its pre-election promises in this area. I want to focus on a specific area, that is, the community not-for-profit and voluntary sector for early years. In the wider Fingal area there are 291 early years service providers but only 16, or 5%, of them are from the community not-for-profit sector, with 95% being for profit. This is the youngest and fastest growing county in the country. It is leaving families being ripped off with high prices for early years. Will the Government commit to a policy whereby the preferred model for early years crèches, which are being built on public land or being run from public buildings, would be a voluntary, not-for-profit or community childcare facility?

We would need to have a much broader outlook than that. We cannot make decisions on this on the hoof. I understand where the Deputy is coming from but, on the other hand, we have developed a model of childcare over two decades which involves either community provision, private sector provision or some State provision. The State has tended to support access through grants and the development of the curriculum, as well as access to early education for children with special and additional needs. We had a price freeze in recent years through significant allocations to the existing providers. A State- or community-based provision may not be permanently based. There are three areas: price, in other words, affordability; the volume of places; and career pathways for those working in childcare.

Go raibh maith agat, a Thaoisigh.

Career pathways need to be better in terms of remuneration and future prospects.

I thank the Taoiseach.