Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Jeyes, Mr. Lee and Mr. McBride. I acknowledge the swift action they took when this information was brought to their attention. It is very important that we operate this in an open and transparent manner and I acknowledge that is what the witnesses are doing.

Mr. Jeyes said all files would be assessed by 8 May. Is he satisfied that target will be met and that, this having been brought to Tusla’s attention, no child in Laois-Offaly is in a vulnerable situation today? That is very important. It is unbelievable that 1,200 files could be left with status unclear. These are not a couple of dozen files misplaced in an office somewhere. It is not a system failure. There is a serious dereliction of someone’s duty. Who ultimately will be held accountable for this?

Mr. Jeyes talks about putting a team of specialised social workers into this area. That is welcome. Mr. Jeyes is on record as saying he had concerns in respect of the Tusla budget. Is part of the problem resource issues, not having sufficient staff on day one? Will the additional staff now being put in here be taken from another location because it is important that they are not? We have debated in this committee and in the Dáil the serious situation arising from the shortage of social workers. Can we be confident that these are additional social workers, that they are not being taken from another area and can Mr. Jeyes confirm whether he believes part of this problem was a resource issue? How many other Laois-Offalys are there?

Last night I was contacted by a person who was concerned about a certain region. I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Jeyes after the meeting. What measures is he taking from a national perspective to ensure this scenario is not replicated in any other region? I take it from his opening address that an official from Tusla will carry out the independent investigation, but I would have concerns about this. Someone who is totally independent of Tusla should carry out a full investigation. I look forward to Mr. Jeyes's replies.