Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We already have an unacceptably high number of children who are disadvantaged. Those children have been doubly disadvantaged over the past year and we need a comprehensive response to their particular circumstances. I am asking the Taoiseach to take the lead on this because it involves a number of different Departments. These issues touch on education, child welfare and health. All of the agencies with responsibility in those areas need to be brought together to devise an immediate and urgent response to the particular problems that have been caused. I am asking the Taoiseach to take the lead on that.

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