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

The committee will meet Tusla officials in two weeks. What would be the top three issues to raise with them regarding children in care and foster carers from the perspective of both organisations?

What is the witnesses' source of funding? What support, if any, do they receive from Tusla? Following the commentary in recent times, do they have confidence in the agency which has come under a great deal of scrutiny?

Are the witnesses aware of the work being done by Maria Lotty in UCC on early childhood trauma? If so, do they have a comment on it? If not, that is fine. It is a new development and it represents a breakthrough for the future in investing in children while they are in care to deal with trauma, and equipping foster carers in how to recognise that and so on.

Would they favour abolishing 18 as the age at which foster care ceases, given it is an arbitrary age? Perhaps it should not be provided for in legislation. As Senator Devine said, in this day and age, none of us as parents abandons our children at 18. Many of us know children who stay at home until they are aged 30.

I am interested in Ms Bond's comments on aftercare and providing on-site accommodation. Many children in care do not have the wherewithal to live independently. For example, a foster parent came to my clinic. She had an adult child exiting care at 18 and was worried about her future. She had saved every penny of the allowance she had received from the State to buy an apartment for her foster child in order that she could live independently near her. That is an extraordinary commitment from a foster carer by any standard. However, the aftercare issue needs to be tackled because every child is headed that way.