Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-23
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Simon Harris (FG), Wicklow

I thank Deputy Donnelly. I am very proud to be a member of the Government that has introduced the DEIS plus programme. For the first time ever in the history of the State, we now have DEIS plus and I thank the Minister, Deputy Naughton, for her work on that. The Deputy and I have discussed this before. It is a start. The schools have been chosen on the basis of need, with criteria that are above and beyond politics in terms of trying to identify those most in need. That is not to say we do not wish to see DEIS plus expanded or rolled out further. Of course we do.
On the other specific issues, including HSE-related issues, I will ask both the Minister for Health and the Minister for education to come back to the Deputy.
While I am on my feet, I welcome the youth advisory panel who Deputy Keira Keogh, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality, said are in the Gallery. I know they spoke so very well yesterday on the topic of online safety. I think there are representatives form Webwise, Youthwork Ireland, the NYCI and the Ombudsman for Children's Office. I welcome them to Leinster House and thank them for being here.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-23