Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Yesterday, we heard from Senator Healy Eames about a young autistic boy in Galway who needs to be cared for in a special class because of a mild disability. He can be cared for nowhere else except in a special class. Such classes are being withdrawn all over the country. These children are not getting the care they need.

There are hundreds of children at risk of being abused whose cases have been referred to the HSE. However, the files are lying on shelves unopened because there is no social worker allocated to look after these cases. The Monageer report was published this week with recommendations blacked out but they cannot be acted on if they are not made public and discussed in the Houses. On a morning when we hear of a further €40 million that has been wasted, what Minister is responsible and will come before the House to take responsibility for these failures to protect our children?

There have been four Fianna Fáil Ministers of State with responsibility for children, namely, Deputies Mary Hanafin, Brian Lenihan, Brendan Smith and Barry Andrews. What were they doing in their brief if they could not take action to ensure this did not continue? Will the Leader ensure a Minister comes before the House to answer these questions?