I was shocked to receive several phone calls to my office in Carlow this week regarding the Department of Children and Youth Affairs removing the upper age exemption for an extra preschool year for children who may not be ready to start school. This was done without consulting practitioners in the sector. I am told that the announcement came from out of the blue.

I call on the Minister, Deputy Zappone, and her Department to explain why this happened. Why is the age exemption being removed from children in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme from September 2018 and why was it announced by Pobal to early years providers without any warning on 24 November? Practitioners and parents are concerned, as am I. There are many children for whom this is a vital exemption. Some need an extra year before they start school and can still meet the age criteria, but now they will not be allowed to do that because they will have done their two free years.

Why is the Minister telling parents that it is up to them to finance this when many do not send their children every day during the free scheme years and could have built up enough days that the Department should pay for this? Some parents do not feel that their three year olds are ready for a five-morning week. Some five year olds still need extra time to avoid having to request staying back later on. Why can they not be accommodated?

Children transitioning to national school need to be independent and confident, have good social and emotional skills and be able to communicate, all of which meet the Department's criteria under the Aistear curriculum framework.

With this exemption removed some children will not be able to adhere to those criteria. The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-20, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, sets out the vision for Ireland to be one of the best small countries in the world in which to grow up and raise a family, where the rights of all children and young people are respected, protected and fulfilled, where their voices are heard and where they are supported to realise their maximum potential now and in the future. This announcement does not contribute to this and it will not serve well the children who require extra supports in early years education.

Is the Senator seeking a debate on the issue?

Yes. This announcement is very bad news and the Minister needs to come to the House to discuss it.

Gabhaim mo chuile dhea-ghuí ar an Seanadóir Landy freisin. Is iomaí speáráil ar chúrsaí éagsúla a bhí anseo againn sa Seanad, ach is fear uasal é. I wish to be associated with the comments regarding Senator Landy, with whom I had many a ding-dong across this parliamentary floor. I always found him a very able combatant in that regard and an absolute gentleman when I met him afterwards. He is also great craic and great company. He is a wonderful man and I wish him all the best.

I have previously called for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to come to the House to update Members on the progress of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. I am acutely aware that many of the survivors are elderly and have many health and other issues they want to have addressed. Some of them are living in unsuitable conditions and they seek practical supports, which are not being made available to them. They also are looking for the truth as to what happened to their siblings, mothers and loved ones connected to them. I hope we can have that debate.

I have also raised on a number of occasions the issue of the St. Anne's site, also known as Lenaboy Castle, in Galway city. It is a former Black and Tans barracks. We know from historical documents that there are tunnels under this building and some of the land surrounding it. I understand that heritage and archaeology reports have been done on the site. We have asked for these to be made available but there appears to be some blockage in that regard. We want to ascertain whether there are burial grounds on the site. Is the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government aware of these reports, has he had sight of them and has he been consulted on the transfer of that building and land to Galway City Council, which has also been given €750,000 by the Sisters of Mercy as part of that deal? If, God forbid, there is need for an archaeological survey at this site, similar to that being carried out in Tuam, will there be an associated cost and if so, will it fall on the State, Galway City Council or some other agency? I wish to ascertain whether the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has been made aware of these issues and whether he has received a report in this regard. If so, will he report to the House on it?