Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, we have confidence in Tusla and I suppose that is on the basis of the ongoing work. I have quarterly meetings with Tusla and at times in between. There are huge challenges in terms of the work of the organisation. Lots of things have come out, and more things will come out, in terms of past practices, etc. Tusla has embarked on a major programme of reform. The Department and I will oversee and monitor this. I appreciate that the public has major concerns in light of different things that have happened. A lot of these relate to legacy issues, as well as to systemic issues in the past couple of years. A reform programme has been put in place. I have also launched a special HIQA investigation. There is ongoing HIQA monitoring and reports are being compiled throughout the country in terms of where Tusla operates. We receive these reports and respond to them. I appreciate that the more general concern has an impact on what we have discussed here.

In addition to being very clear about what Tusla is doing in this regard, there might also be an important communications piece on behalf of the Department as we move to this new way of provision. I accept Deputy Ó Laoghaire's view that perhaps the tendering process might not be the ideal way to go. However, from a pragmatic perspective, it is the speediest way. We require reform and we are building a way of monitoring and evaluating that will bring us to where we wish to go.