Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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I thank everyone for coming in today. I thank the Minister. I am going to go on quickly because I am aware of my time here. I wish to go into the specifics of children and families affected by defective concrete and the guidance counselling supports for these children, which is not there but which would be funded under Vote 40 - Children, Disability and Equality. In County Donegal, the affected areas include entire estates, social and private homes, schools and childcare facilities. Peer reviewed research has been completed by the University of Ulster that found families living in defective concrete homes are experiencing extremely high rates of mental health difficulties. These peer read reviews published that depression is 30%, severe anxiety is 20%, complex PTSD is 15% and suicidal ideation is at 35%, which is well above the average.

A former teacher and a campaigner, Roisin Gallagher, has repeatedly requested additional counselling supports for families affected by defective concrete but the Department has responded that additional supports must come from existing guidance counsellor allocations. This is not happening on the ground. It is particularly in areas where whole estates are impacted and children are traumatised. If we take the example of somewhere like Carndonagh, where 90% of the homes and all the children who go to these schools are affected, there is nothing in place for them counselling-wise. Under Vote 40, will there be provisions? Can there be provisions? We are looking for some kind of hub for these people and their children to ensure that there is some form of counselling that they can avail of.