Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party) | Oireachtas source

We are looking at this under Vote 40. There is a massive gap here where we are talking about regions where there are 20,000 homes - we have estimated that it is in or around that - but we know by looking at the schools in these affected areas that there is such a vast amount that there is nothing in place that could catch them. It is a net that they are falling through. This has been going on for 15 years and this is leading to additional trauma going into the future. We are now dealing with young adults who are suffering through this. Under Vote 40, we definitely need to do something. Carndonagh is a shining example. Every single property that was in built in that area from 1997 all the way to 2014 is affected. That means thousands of children. No matter what, we could not provide resources for them. We need something. We are dealing with a humanitarian crisis that needs to be recognised as a humanitarian crisis for children. This is a trauma that they are going through but if we do not deal with this and if we do not get the proper supports in place now, this will become generational. This is why I am pressing the Minister on this.