Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

While listening to the Minister, I could not help thinking how useful that programme would have been to many of the young children abused in the Ferns diocese. Why is the programme not mandatory? It is very useful because it involves giving the children skills. It also involves teachers, parents and communities. I do not understand why it cannot be made mandatory or has not been made so. Does the Minister intend to make it mandatory, or is there some obstacle which prevents the Department making it mandatory in all schools? We cannot take the risk of having children left out of such a valuable programme.

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