Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the witnesses to clarify what is meant by a model of commissioning as recommended in the opening statement. It is a pleasure to have a meeting like this where the witnesses come in with solutions. It is very easy to identify problems, but HIQA is recommending solutions, which is very heartening for us as a committee. It means we can see a step we can take forward. I ask if there is anything we can do as a committee to provide justice in respect of the appalling litany of tragedy in this area by shining a light on it. I thank Senator Devine in that regard and the witnesses for attending. If we can push for regulation in this area and demand it happens today before tomorrow, it is to do the very least we owe to those who are in the system today and who were let down by it so appallingly in the past.

HIQA has really identified the gaping hole in the foster care system. The fact that service level agreements are not in place is beyond belief. Foster carers in Cork deal with south Lee and north Lee and there are major differences. Within one county there are major differences between two sectors. Very different dynamics are at play in how they are managed and organised. We have a big issue from a management point of view for Tusla. HIQA has pointed to that clearly here.

Something I am particularly interested in is the private service. Have the witnesses noticed any difference in standards in private services versus those provided by Tusla? I understand that Tusla has a role in private services and I understand the differences. I refer to the 6% of private providers. Is there a difference in the allocation of social workers? There are over 500 children without social workers. Is there a larger number of such children in private care versus public care? Are the standards different? Anecdotally, foster parents I have spoken to say the range of services is better with private providers. It is claimed but I cannot say it authoritatively. Has HIQA seen more proactive training for foster carers on the private side?

I saw a briefing document from the Minister during the week referring to me as having something of an obsession with value for money. My issue in talking about that is on how we are spending the money we spend. I want to see a child-centred value for money. As a committee, we must remember that we spend some €660 million on these services annually for the care of 6,000 children. It is valid to ask if we are getting child-centred value for money as such. From looking at the private operators, what are HIQA's views on child-centred value for money? We are spending a great deal of money through these providers.