Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

In response to Deputy Farrelly, there is no U-turn. There will be targeted measures in the budget in respect of children, in particular financial supports and the prioritisation of the issue of child poverty.

In relation to Deputy O'Gorman, I fully accept that we have a lot more to do in terms of special education. I went through this earlier in a longer reply. We need to ensure that every child and family knows they have a place and where they are going well in advance of the school year. There has to be a cultural ethos in the Department to enable that to happen. I understand the Ministers are working on that agenda.

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