Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

That is why we have had to put in additional supports. We could not do otherwise. If there is a situation involving a young person whose needs far outstrip the capacity of a foster family, we have to put in place that level of care.

The Senator referred to direct provision. This cannot, and will not, be simply a name change. It is a complete approach to how we treat people in the international protection process while they are waiting for a decision. It is about accommodation and the wider supports provided to them. It is about allowing them independence in terms of work and the ability to get a driving licence and engage with society as a whole. It is also about protection in the context of education. It is about integration and ensuring that the direct provision centre is not somewhere miles from town that is not accessible. There has to be integration as well. It is far more than simply a name. The Senator has my assurance that we will deliver on that.

She made a strong point on the well-being of young people. Since the pandemic began, my Department has undertaken research to ascertain specifically how it is impacting on young people. This research was important in making the case that the reopening of schools was important from the point of view of general mental health, to support children from disadvantaged areas and to support those with special educational needs. It also serves as a window into the lives of those children whose families may be dysfunctional or where there is some element of abuse taking place. When a child is in front of a teacher for six or seven hours in a day, that teacher can spot issues quickly and notify the relevant authorities. The research we did in conjunction with SpunOut examining teenage experience was important in the context of the roadmap for resilience and recovery that we are all operating under at the moment. It was important in convincing me to put additional financial supports into youth services. One thing the research spotted was that young people who had engaged with youth services during the lockdown or pandemic had far better outcomes than those who had not. That is one of the issues that convinced me of the importance of supporting the youth sector in this period. The data and research are also informing me in other ways. I attended a Cabinet sub-committee meeting last night to discuss mental health. I brought forward the need to concentrate on the mental health of everyone now that we are back at level 5, but especially the mental health of young people.