Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also want to touch on the children themselves and the impact all of this has had on them. Has Early Childhood Ireland thought about looking into this to see if there are any supports it can provide for them? I do not necessarily mean for it to give them directly but is there funding available or could we look for funding supports for children?

In case I do not have time, I also want to raise the rumoured possibility that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and its stand-alone Minister might be abolished. It is an issue about which I feel very passionate and I would like to hear what the witnesses think because it is imperative that we keep a stand-alone Minister and Department. Given the week that is in it, I am going to take every opportunity I can to raise the matter.