Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Pringle for his work in this regard. I welcome Dr. Muldoon and his team to the Visitors Gallery. I first came across Dr. Muldoon in 2020, when I was on the petitions committee and we were discussing the White Paper on ending direct provision. The context was very different back then compared with where we are today. It is important we understand that context and appreciate the difficulties the Minister and his Department have to deal with in terms of the sheer volume and number of people, children in particular, who are coming here looking for shelter and support.

I want to raise a couple of points. This is the first time the Ombudsman for Children has submitted a special report to the Oireachtas. That itself is quite striking and underlines the severity of the issue we are dealing with and how urgent it is. From knowing him personally, I know he is doing his best and that he will work to try to address many of the issues, but that is very telling about the situation we are in.

I will pick out a couple of quotes from the report. The ombudsman stated that, since 2020 and 2021, progress has either stalled or regressed in terms of what we are providing for these children.

Again, that is quite striking. Another comment made by the Ombudsman for Children in his report concerned how we treat children coming to this country will be a defining issue of our generation. Indeed it is what Deputy Funchion more or less said, namely, that it involves the history and track record we have in this country, particularly how we treat our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. It is time we really stepped up to the plate.

I wish to raise an issue with the Minister because it is topical at home. I will not identify the direct provision centre but I will underline the issues with which we are dealing and the threats these people face even when they are here and have received support. I am aware of three families in Cork that received letters last Friday telling them that they will be moved to Westmeath by the following Wednesday. I know every Deputy in this Chamber has dealt with different people over the years and so many different situations but these are families with children. One parent is training to be a nurse in UCC. What does it mean for her? A child in one of the other families has special needs and is getting great support in the local school. If you are upping sticks and moving halfway up the country, trying to locate a school place might be challenging in itself. I am not too familiar with the schools in Westmeath. For a child who is getting very good support, is doing well in school and is really improving, to be taken out of that environment into a new climate is quite difficult, particularly in a five-day turnaround. This is indicative of the way things are at the moment - very ad hoc. That is just one isolated incident. I do not think many of these decisions are in the best interests of the children or families. I would appreciate if the Minister could talk to me about that situation after the debate.

I sympathise with the Minister. Things are difficult. There are tens of thousands of people clamouring for accommodation. It is a difficult situation but the situation and standards that were not up to scratch in 2021 are still not up to standard in 2023. That is the bottom line.

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