Ms Fidelma Guinan:

I wish to respond to the Chairman's final two questions. If representatives of Tusla are to come before the committee, I would raise three points with them. When we meet young people, they always tell us that they believe they are not listened to and that they are not part of the decisions made about them. All children in foster care should be listened to and be part of every decision made. It is about their lives. Social workers and foster carers move on; the children are the only ones who are static in the process. Second, as stated by the Irish Foster Care Association, all children in foster care should have a social worker, with whom they would have regular contact, and they should all have a linked social worker. Third, a quality service of a national standard should be provided - it is evident from our work that there is no national standard - both for the child and the foster family. It should especially include aftercare services. A lot of work needs to be put into the aftercare services being delivered. They are doing great work, but it is not a national service.

Core funding for our entire advocacy service is provided by Tusla. We receive philanthropic funds for research and youth engagement which come primarily from Atlantic Philanthropies. In later years we have received funding from the Tony Ryan Trust. We have received the odd grants for which we have applied here and there. We are always trying to secure funding.