John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the reply. This is a very radical and dynamic innovation on the Minister’s part. It will be one of a number of things for which she will be remembered. It represents a shift in the funding mechanism of the Government, for example. I have long believed that every Department has a role to play in well-being and mental health so it is not only the Department of Health’s funding that goes towards these initiatives. Deputy Foley is, I think, the first Minister for Education to allocate a significant portion of funding from her Department to the health and mental well-being of children. I assume this funding will increase in the years ahead. That should be acknowledged.

Building resilience is a key part of the challenge our young children face, particularly because so much of their play is structured compared to previous times. I congratulate the Minister on the radical nature of the introduction of this process.

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