Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

The McCarthy report has been described as a red pen exercise. It is easy to go through budgets and slash left, right and centre with no regard for the implications of the cuts.

One proposal was the discontinuation of the €30 million funding for the Family Support Agency. I am keen to know the Minister's thinking on this area given her background as Minister with responsibility for children. Presumably the Minister accepts the need for early intervention in family difficulties and the need to provide family support services. What is the Minister's thinking about such services now? It is easy to say we could save €30 million but has there been any estimate of the likely savings in justice, social welfare, education and other areas through the provision of early intervention services from the Family Support Agency? It is a "no-brainer" as far as I can see.

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