Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the first programme plan for child well-being. I also have concerns. The Government has made good strides, particularly on DEIS schools which is close to my heart and County Carlow was very lucky as we got 13 DEIS-status schools. I have an issue with DEIS 1 and DEIS 2, the first for boys and the second for girls; I think they should be all DEIS. We should look at all schools to have DEIS status in order that every child who goes to school gets a hot meal.

In Carlow, we have set up a soup kitchen, St. Clare's Hospitality Kitchen. There are volunteers who do great work. Around 120 meals go out every week to children and families, together with about 80 food parcels. But there is no Government funding for soup kitchens. There is no help whatever from the Government to support the volunteers, the good people who set up these soup kitchens, who fundraise and do their best to make sure children and families are not going hungry. I ask that it be included in the budget.

I also welcome the great announcement of free books for primary schools. I believe it should be extended to secondary schools. We speak about children but we have no women's refuge in Carlow. While we are getting one, we need to it really urgently. I have families coming in to me with young children who are being evicted. They cannot find a place to rent. I and the Government need to get the women's refuge up and running in Carlow. We all met the childcare providers last week and spoke about the challenges that exist. I ask that core funding be looked at in the budget. One other thing, which is very important, is that children with disabilities are facing huge challenges accessing services. Community health care organisation, CHO 5 has faced huge challenges and I ask that we look at this in the budget.

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