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

I thank Deputy Carthy. As someone who worked in adult education at the start of my own career, I understand its value. I do not know the reason why those employees in the Cavan-Monaghan ETB have not been given the full level of hours but I will raise it directly with the relevant line Minister because I know how important those courses are and how much adult education means to so many people, particularly elderly people in reducing social isolation.

In reply to Deputy Verona Murphy, having stood at many a bus stop in Irish weather I know how important those shelters are. Again I do not know the reason for the delay but I am happy to have it raised.

Finally in reply to Deputy Costello, absolutely this Government highlighted child poverty as a priority issue for ourselves in terms of the child poverty unit created in the Department of the Taoiseach. Budget time is when we really demonstrate that. Points that I will be arguing outside of my own Department will be an increase in the qualified child increase, QCI, and in the working family payment. The Green Party suggested the idea of a baby boost which is not targeted on socio-economic grounds but on timing grounds. When a new child arrives, I do not think there is any family that is not under some sort of financial pressure at that stage. In my Department, I am hoping for funding for Equal Start, the DEIS model for early years that actually kickstarted two weeks ago, to broaden it further in September 2025.

See this speech in context