Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is right. We discussed this matter previously and I put in place a number of short-term measures to deal with some of the some of the issues around the NCS, particularly the issue of sponsorship, which will come up later today. When I began as Minister there were perhaps 30 children sponsored across the country, now it is 1,900 so there has been a very significant increase in identifying specific vulnerable children.

On the wider issue, the review has initiated. We had to let the NCS run for a full year. It was only introduced in 2019 and for this year, of all years, for it to have its initial roll-out, it has had all the additional issues. Before we make significant changes, we need the data and that is why this review is important. I did ask him to specifically look at this issue of disadvantage. The review will come back at the end of this year, that is the one-year review. There is also the expert funding model group which is also looking at this issue. It is not being ignored, it is being acknowledged and research has been done and how we address it.

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