Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The main issue being highlighted is that the mental health and well-being of our children and young people has been impacted. The immediate challenge for us, however, is how we ensure this impact is temporary and not permanent. While I acknowledge the Minister mentioned the €2 million, it is hugely important, therefore, that money is front-loaded into the mental health services, and the interface between mental health services and education, to ensure the proper interventions are made. If we delay in those interventions, the long-term economic and social costs for us, as well as the human cost for the children, is unthinkable as it is at the moment. That is my main ask from the Minister.