Ms Heydi Foster-Breslin:

Yes. Our parents do not have the resources that exist in some communities so they cannot contribute the fees that can be charged elsewhere. This lack of resources at home also means that little ones should get more support when they are with us if they are to have outcomes that are comparable with their peers in much wealthier neighbourhoods and families, such as in Dublin 4 and Dublin 6. There are additional supports for disadvantaged primary and secondary schools. The Minister said he plans to allocate additional funding for disadvantaged early learning and childcare providers. This is urgently needed.

In An Cosán we try to generate money to employ family support workers and counsellors to help with parenting, provide educational materials and food, money advice, mentoring, job coaching or support with addiction. We try to work on an inter-agency basis, helping our families to access supports. In turn, we take referrals from Tusla, the HSE and others of children and families with extra needs. We are committed to addressing the needs of the furthest behind first, but we need extra resources to do so effectively. This must be recognised in how funding is allocated. In addition, there is a ten-year Government strategy to improve the lives of children and their families from birth onwards. As I mentioned earlier, while the early years and extra supports for children are very important, we also believe a third intervention is needed. We call this the one-generation solution. We know that this works. We must continue to educate women and mothers so we can empower their families. In that way the entire family begins to value and appreciate the benefits of education. We know that if we can raise a woman through education, her family can escape poverty forever. I was delighted to hear that Deputy Ward benefited directly from the education services that An Cosán provides and to see how amazingly he is doing.

I acknowledge the support we get from Pobal. It supports us and that is how we manage to do a lot of the work we do.