Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for their questions. Deputy Murnane O'Connor mentioned DEIS schools and the need for more educational welfare officers. We always need to remind ourselves that, while many children experience disadvantage in DEIS schools, most children who experience disadvantage are not in DEIS schools. That is why extending the hot school meals programme to non-DEIS schools is really important and is being pursued by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and it is why I am so supportive of the Minister, Deputy Foley, in making sure free schoolbooks are provided on a universal basis. Just applying it to DEIS schools would leave out a huge number of children who suffer disadvantage but do not go to such schools. Nobody wants to see a means-testing system for something like schoolbooks. That is why we have gone for a universal basis. I agree on the need to improve the provision of therapies. That is why we are training more therapists.

I will have to come back to Deputy O'Sullivan on the question around CDNTs and therapy assistants. I do not have those figures.

Deputy McAuliffe pointed out budget 2024 is progressive, that lone parent households benefit the most and that it will reduce child poverty. It is important we build on that in future budgets. I agree with him on the value of area-based action and the work that needs to be done in Ballymun. We have seen good results in Drogheda.

What happened last Thursday night is a huge blow to people living in the north-east inner city. Some people will try to say the task force and investment there have not worked. I do not agree with that. I have been there many times and know what is being invested in the north-east inner city has made a difference to the lives of thousands of people living in that part of our capital city. Some people will say, incorrectly, that those involved in the disturbances and rioting were from the area but it is interesting to put on the record of the Dáil, as mentioned in an article in The Irish Timestoday, that of the 38 people arrested last Thursday, only three had addresses in Dublin 1. The majority of the people who burned parts of our city and did what they did were not local people from inner-city Dublin; they were from all over Dublin and came in with a view to causing trouble. Some came from outside of Dublin. I hope that gives people in the north-east inner city some reassurance that that is understood and we will continue to be behind regeneration projects in the north-east inner city.

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of two young boys. I did not catch their names but he said they had a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy, which is an extremely rare dual diagnosis. I am certain it is an exceptional case. Allocations are a matter for the local authority but I am happy to look into it and see if I can help, if the Deputy will pass on the details to my office.

Deputy Murphy raised CARI, which provides a hugely valuable service which we need to continue.

I am advised by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, that an additional allocation has been made for this year to allow CARI to continue its work for the rest of this calendar year and that it will try to sort out arrangements for 2024 with Tusla.

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