Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising the important issue of the well-being, safety, protection, mental health needs and so on of children in State care. The broad point the Deputy makes is about the need for those of us who hold positions of authority to take an active interest in the lives of those who may find themselves without a voice within the system. On foot of what the Deputy has raised in the Dáil, I will specifically and directly raise with Tusla the issue of the 200 children who have died in State care over ten years and the issue of the interaction with CAMHS. I am happy to correspond with the Deputy and engage further on the issue. I thank him for raising it and giving those children a voice in the Dáil today.

Deputy Barry raised the campaign by parents and workers at the Before 5 Family Centre, Churchfield, and the fact that €300,000 had been approved to pay for the works required to reopen the centre next year. On the one hand, if the money had not been allocated, the Deputy would rightly have said that that was a problem, but when the money is allocated, he is saying there is a cynicism to it. I assure him there is not. We are very determined to listen to parents and workers in this sector and I am pleased that that funding was able to be provided, but I hear the Deputy’s plea and request to make sure that the works are carried out speedily, the money is released speedily and there are no delays in that regard. I will speak directly to the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, on the Deputy’s behalf and tell him the Deputy raised it in the Dáil today and asked that the works happen.

I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett and my colleague, Deputy Durkan, for raising their issues. Deputy Boyd Barrett specifically raised the issue of the housing development in Ballybrack. I will certainly ensure it is raised. I happened to be at the opening of some housing and met some of the families in my own constituency very recently who had just received housing through that approved housing body. I must say I was impressed on that occasion – this was in Blessington – with the homes I saw, but I take very seriously what the Deputy said about the excitement that someone feels when getting a new home and the relief after years of waiting only to then find problems with damp, electrics and perhaps more. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, to directly raise that with the approved housing body and, perhaps, with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and to correspond with the Deputy on it.

Deputy Durkan brought us to a broader point in terms of standards and finishes in social houses. Let us be very clear, in that they should all be finished to the exact same standard as any other home. The State, on behalf of the people of Ireland, is spending a lot of money in this space. The Deputy’s request for the local authorities to exert authority and oversight in that regard is well made and one that I will pass on to the Minister for housing as well.

Without knowing the details of that extremely difficult situation, but one I believe Deputy Murphy has mentioned to me before, involving the father who was seriously ill and his daughter who has a number of serious medical conditions, would the Deputy like me to look at the specifics of the case and see if anything can be done through the local authority?

We put the tenant in situscheme in place for such scenarios. I am happy to take the details from the Deputy and help in any way I can.

Turning to Deputy Ó Murchú, I understand the NCSE is currently carrying out a whole review of special school and special class capacity. I take the point that where there is a school willing and wanting to help and assist, we should not be putting any hurdles in its space at a time when we need more capacity. I am happy to engage with the Deputy further.

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