Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply. The Minister is aware that I am an advocate of this programme and I can never say enough good about it. This service follows the needs of the child and is not based on the child having first come to the attention of Tusla in order to get assistance. Under this programme, it does not matter who the child's parents are or what is going on in his or her life.

A lot of kids do not necessarily come to the attention of other services. A lot of stuff is means tested based on parents and people just fall outside of various other schemes but this is totally child-centred. It is centred around what the child needs at that particular time whether through homework clubs, play therapy and counselling services, which are one of the most valuable things provided currently given the increase in levels of anxiety, stress and worry that we see in our young people particularly in schools. Children in schools running the school completion programme can get access to that immediately. It is invaluable, particularly for any child going through a crisis. Were school completion co-ordinators invited to that event on 10 June and have they been included in the consultation process? That is key. Is there going to be new money allocated? As far as I am aware, they have not had their budget increased since 2008.

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