Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone very much for coming here this morning. I have a number of questions to address in this committee meeting. I will start off with Ms Byrne and compliment the work of DCA Warriors. It is an organisation I come across very often in my line of work. The advocacy it undertakes and the help it gives to families at very difficult times is very welcome. I put that on the record. I hope she will continue the great work she is doing with DCA Warriors. I read her submission and heard her speak this morning. Deputy Tully referred to the gold standard, as Ms Byrne has called it, that is, the assessment of need. At our last meeting with the HSE, we were at pains to ask whether families need an assessment of need and its representatives were at pains to say they do not. They repeated that three or four times. Ms Byrne has described that as a very worrying development. I know she has already spoken to the issue but will she again tell us how it will impact on families to not have that gold standard? Will she comment on that?

I was very taken with Ms Kenny and Mr. Power's organisation's proposal for a centralised application system for school places. I am dealing with a number of families at the moment. One of these is on its sixth school in looking for a place. I also believe a centralised application system needs to be put in place. This was something we mentioned to the principals' networks. They spoke about time. Time is very important in this process as it allows for planning. The unions also spoke about that. Will Ms Kenny and Mr. Power again address the issue of a centralised application system and how the current situation is affecting families in Dublin 6 and Dublin 6W? They may also have other comments on that system.

It is something we could definitely get behind as a committee. When a parent rings you asking you to intervene with principals and saying they are on their sixth school, which is what I have at the moment, it is extremely worrying. Something needs to be done about it. I ask the witnesses to comment on that.

Ms Smith and Ms Boylan are from County Cavan. I am from a rural location. At the previous meeting we spoke about regional supports, and the issue was touched on by Ms Smith. Are other regions or County Cavan missing out on something that other bigger locations, such as Dublin, are getting, where there are a lot more supports? I know CAPS has looked at that before. Is there something CAPS has seen, as a community group in a rural area, on which it is missing out? We have mentioned the transport issue. Is there something else that is happening?

As the Chair is aware, we have been dealing with summer programme recently. We have a motion coming before us today on that. How is that affecting the organisations on the ground? Are summer programmes being offered in the witnesses' areas? How beneficial are they to families? Where they are not being offered or where the witnesses have heard stories of them not being offered, how is it affecting the routine of families?