Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and compliment my Labour Party colleague on bringing forward this sensible and worthwhile Bill which we in Fianna Fáil, along with others, are very happy to support. I welcome the fact that Department of Children and Youth Affairs would have the power to intervene at a much earlier age, something which is vitally important. The saying "A stitch in time saves nine" comes to mind in respect of the Bill. If there is an issue with a particular child in school it can be identified early and steps can be taken to talk to the parents and determine the difficulties. That can be done not in a heavy-handed way but, as outlined by Senator Ó Ríordáin, in a compassionate and thoughtful way with a view to finding a resolution to the difficulties in order that the children concerned get the best possible chance to get an education that, it is to be hoped, will be their passport to a better life.

The most recent statistics available are for 2015 and 2016. I note there was a slight increase on previous years, which is quite worrying. It is timely that Senator Ó Ríordáin is bringing the Bill to the House at that particular point in time. All Senators have outlined the reasons for that in their contributions and I will not be repetitive. We in Fianna Fáil are delighted to be associated with the Bill, and look forward to its speedy passage and to it becoming law.

I am quite surprised that such legislation has not been introduced before now. The Bill is so obvious that one would wonder how it has not been in place up to this point. I again compliment Senator Ó Ríordáin on his foresight. His experience of being a school principal in the area in which he worked has given him an added dimension in terms of the sensitivities of this particular issue. We are delighted to support the Bill and we look forward to its speedy passage through both Houses.