As the Minister knows, chapter 15 of the national development plan is titled "Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services". With an increasing demand for places across those three sectors, it is absolutely essential that we have that increased investment put to use as quickly as possible. We need increased facilities in rural and urban Ireland. I sincerely hope that the money allocated can be spent as quickly as possible and that we do not have the type of interminable delays which have occurred over the years in respect of so many worthwhile projects.

Sentiment score: 0.33

I thank the Minister for his reply. I heard him speak at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. He said that in far too many instances over the years process won out over delivery with regard to the capital programmes for different Departments. I refer to the childcare sector in particular. With the Minister's approval, the Minister, Deputy Foley, recently introduced the building blocks grant scheme towards the provision of new childcare places and the upgrading of existing facilities. That is a very worthwhile programme. The Minister, Deputy Foley, recently visited my constituency, where she met some of the providers who have availed of the building blocks grant scheme and others who urgently need to increase capacity or to upgrade existing capacity. That scheme needs additional investment. The Minister may recall that, between 2004 and 2008, his predecessor in Dublin West, our colleague the late Brian Lenihan and I were both were both Ministers of State with responsibility for children. At that time, we were providing grant aid in excess of €1 million for new childcare facilities. During that four- to five-year period, massive and necessary development took place in the country to build a whole new infrastructure of childcare facilities, both through the community sector and private providers. We need a repeat of that today.

Sentiment score: 0.23

The need for additional childcare places is replicated in small areas. I am working with groups in small parishes and villages such as the Denn Toddlers Playgroup in Crosskeys, County Cavan, and Happy Days Childcare in Belturbet, County Cavan. Crosskeys is a small village and Belturbet is a small town but they have huge demand for additional places, as the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach will know. It is therefore extremely important that the building blocks scheme be expanded, if at all possible. There is a similar situation in disability services. There are two particular needs in my constituency. There is a need to considerably expand the Drumlin House Training Centre. I am very glad that substantial capital funding has been approved in respect of that development. In addition, there is the day activation unit in Cavan town, which provides day services for young adults with complex needs. At present, it is in totally unsuitable accommodation. Again, I am very glad that the HSE, in conjunction with the Department of children, is advancing that project. However, again and again, despite the best efforts of HSE officials at local level, it takes far too long to get projects to construction. I sincerely hope the Minister can get that message through to every Department and agency. Process must not win out over delivery.

Sentiment score: 0.17