Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On that point, we had representatives of Focus Ireland before the committee who stressed that there was a shortage of child support workers and a waiting list for families living in hubs to link with a child support worker. I want to know what is being done about that issue. The representatives could not speak enough about the need for therapeutic support services for children living in hubs. I want to know what has happened since. Is there a shortage of child support workers and, if so, what is being done about it? We have representatives of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs present. Is the Department willing to make extra funding available in the budget to ensure the children concerned receive the support they need, particularly therapeutic support services?