Ms Breda O'Donovan:

If someone is a foster carer with a private agency, the link worker is provided through the private agency but the social worker for the child is still provided by Tusla regardless of the area the child has come from. The child may not be placed. In respect of a foster carer with a private agency in Limerick, the child could have come from Dublin or any part of the country and the child's social worker may still be placed on that team in that area so it limits the contact with the child but the wraparound service is with the private agency. The foster carer's support is with the private agency.