I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 237 together.
I am committed, in conjunction with the HSE and other stakeholders, to progressing a Pre-School Quality Agenda involving a range of actions aimed at improving the quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime. I have outlined to the Dáil on a number of occasions the areas which I believe need to be addressed as a matter of urgency and a number of reforms have already commenced.
Budget discussions in relation to funding priorities for next year are underway and a number of groups have made submissions to my Department, including Early Childhood Ireland, which are being taken into consideration in this context. However, it is not the practice to engage in correspondence or discussions on these proposals while the budgetary process is ongoing.