Mr. Pat Smyth:

The Senator asked what can he do, which is sometimes a dangerous question to ask. From Tusla's perspective, we are always conscious of the fact that we are in loco parentisfor 5,500 kids whose constitutional rights have been failed. The State has, therefore, taken over their care from their families. One of our biggest needs is to ensure that those kids, because they are being looked after solely by the State, have access to assistance through the rest of the State, where they can be prioritised. That does not only relate to mental health services, which are extremely important and there are obvious constraints in that regard, as they also need support through all kinds of other primary care services and supports other than health services. We need to think about ways to provide that support. We try to do that with the HSE and at other ports of call. It is almost something that should be there as a first ask because those kids are a priority for the State.