Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am here in Leinster House. My thanks to the Minister. I welcome this budget. It is important because everything we spoke about today relates to vital services. We need to ensure funding is available. This funding is always important but it has been especially important in the past year when so much has happened with Covid-19 and everything else.

I note one of the sections under childcare referred to a high-level goal of making childcare more affordable. This issue has been raised with my office. Many people want to know how we can achieve that goal. I know the Minister is working on it but we need to do more work to address it.

My second question relates to a study by Alcohol Action Ireland and University College Cork. The report found that approximately 200,000 children are living in households impacted by alcohol use with a further 400,000 adult children coming from such homes. The report recommended mandatory training in schools to recognise pupils who are experiencing trauma at home. What are we doing with that training? Is that provided for by the Minister in the Estimates? What funding is available for that important task?

Schools are focusing on well-being and I welcome that. Are we giving them the right resources? Will the Minister address the issues of early learning care, school-aged childcare and Covid-19 related supports? I am concerned about these issues.

It is clear from the other questions asked that many issues now cut across Departments. We go to one Department for one thing and to another for something else. We need to ensure when we are putting budgets that there is a working group that works with all the Departments. If I go looking for information, I find I am often told I have contacted the wrong Department and I should go elsewhere. That is very important, especially now with childcare. The Minister might come back to me on that.

The third issue I raise relates to Tusla. I welcome the €66 million in additional funding the Minister said he has provided. I am working with the Minister on a case involving funding near my home town. We spoke about domestic violence and so on. It is important that funding is provided now because we have such a large budget.

While we welcome that there is such a large budget, it is important in small areas like mine that services be kept going and there be no cuts. We have seen an increase in domestic violence over the past year, or as was mentioned, perhaps it has been highlighted more. It is important that we ensure that the resources go to those areas that need them. Will the Minister consider this point? It could be an issue.

The Minister mentioned how disability services were moving into his Department. That is welcome, as it will be important that the services under his aegis work together. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Minister will work well together.

The Minister discussed mother and baby homes, county homes and how he and his Department were working on adoptees being able to access their information. The 22 recommendations must be acted on urgently. It is important for survivors that, when they want to access their own information, we will have provided legislation to provide that access. We must pass that legislation and the 22 recommendations should be worked on straight away. From meeting the Minister, I understand how committed he is to doing all of this. Will he revert to me on the matter?

There is a further issue that might affect us in the long term. There has been a shortage of social workers, with fewer graduating. That is a concern. Perhaps the Minister will be able to give me some information on it.

We are going through the Covid pandemic, children have been at home and parents have been excellent at home schooling. The past year has been difficult for everyone. Proper funding must be provided to where it is needed now in order that we do not revert to the Minister in six months' time saying that certain areas are not accessing funding under his large budget.

I welcome the Minister's budget. It is a very good one and will help. We must work as much as we can to ensure that the services that need funding get it.