Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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On the supports being put in place, the reality is some schools do it but the majority do not. As each school has the same issue in trying to get staff, why are some schools doing it and yet, eight months away from next summer, other schools already have decided not to do it? It is the vast majority of them. It is the 8,000 children with the highest need who are getting no provision. A strong message needs to come from this committee and from the representative bodies that we are neglecting and letting down those families and children if we do not put it in place. That is our collective responsibility. I would like to see a strong statement on that for summer 2023. It is not acceptable that we have a repeat of the last number of years. Families and children and being let down. We are highlighting and, particularly through the health services, talking about early intervention. If we do not give continuous help at a younger age, it will affect children in later life. I make this point strongly and I seek support from the organisations present for the position that we will do everything in our power to make sure that summer 2023 is different from recent summers. Parents have gone through Covid, lockdown and difficult times. We need to put that in place to give support to them.