Dr. Niall Muldoon:

On top of that, only this week there was confirmation that foster children will get the free books scheme and the back-to-school allowance, which was previously withheld from them. Unfortunately, I think it will be means tested, which we should drop. We are looking at about 2,500 children in that sort of situation. We are starting to move in the right direction but it will take a number of years to get children back out.

We are delighted that the unit stayed within the Taoiseach’s Department, so it should have real opportunities to make things different.