I seek a debate on early childhood care and education. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, made a positive speech to the House about two months ago in which she outlined the benefits of early childhood care and education. In the United States, where early childhood care began 30 years ago when it was not fashionable here, it has been demonstrated that it delivers a return on investment of ten or 20 to one.

The Minister for Education and Skills did not announce a cut in child benefit yesterday but a proposal to reallocate funding to be put to good use in early childhood care and education. Dr. Nóirín Hayes, in conjunction with the Dublin Institute of Technology, has produced an up-to-date report on the issue. Just two weeks ago, a study was published which showed the benefits of early childhood education for 1,000 children in west Tallaght. The Minister's statement yesterday outlined how to make good use of money. Early childhood care and education has been demonstrated to be one way to spend money wisely. The Minister also noted that the changes required could not be made overnight because we do not have in place an adequate early childhood care and education infrastructure because the sector has been treated as the poor relation for years. We should ascertain if infrastructure can be provided for quality preschool education and training. While excellent training is being provided in this area, it will also be necessary to upskill trainers. There is a difference between minding children and high quality care and education. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on this issue as soon as possible.

I, too, support Senator MacSharry's amendment, primarily because I share Senator Bacik's sentiment on the need to provide a second year of free child care. As chairman of the Leitrim county child care committee, I will declare an interest in this matter. The County Leitrim committee is under severe threat as a result of the decision to withdraw much of its funding. Unless the ongoing reductions to funding are arrested in the next two years, there will be wholesale mergers of county child care committees. Such a development would not be conducive to efficient delivery of child care services. As to which Minister should come to the House for a debate on child care, while that is a matter for the Leader to decide, unlike my colleague, Senator MacSharry, who called for the Minister for Education and Skills to come before us, I am inclined to the view that we should invite the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs should come to the House.

I ask the Leader to raise with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, and his Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, the continuing lack of support shown to the Irish music industry by the national broadcaster, RTE. I raise this issue because last Sunday evening I was invited to attend a function in Letterkenny hosted by Mr. Shawn Cuddy, a singer from County Laois who is popular both here and overseas. Each year for the past 19 years Mr. Cuddy and other Irish country music singers invites visitors to take part in a weekend of entertainment. I was astonished, on arriving at the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny, to find more than 450 visitors from Scotland and England were attending the event. They each spent more than €500 on average over the weekend. One will not hear the music of Shawn Cuddy, Mike Denver or Declan Nerney on national radio, although it is played on local radio stations. These and many other singers provide entertainment and give pleasure to many people, while generating spending in the economy. I raise this issue as it is the year of The Gathering. Having spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, about the matter, I call for a debate on with the Minister, Minister of State or Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte. Whereas RTE television acknowledges Irish country music, it is necessary to stir up the powers that be in RTE radio because it is an outright scandal that an industry that supports the economy does not receive support from the national broadcaster.