Ms Heydi Foster-Breslin:

I ask for funding for preventative and intervention services for families and children, education and training for mothers with wraparound supports, including mental health and well-being, suicide prevention and addiction services, special supports for children and families with extra stresses, such as Travellers and children in direct provision, in addition to giving children a voice and hearing from them in coming up with solutions, working closely in partnership with parents to hear what their main stresses are, so that we come up with solutions with them rather than for them. We work with 210 community partners throughout Ireland. There are differences, but good practice in child development can be applied in different localities as long as it is done with local community participation so that it is tailored to local needs. Funding needs to be structured on a multi-annual basis in order that medium- to long-term prevention and intervention planning can be properly deployed.