Dr. Carmel Halton:

I would add that the more recent challenge in acquiring placements in Tusla relate to issues around retention and the moving of people around different areas. A requirement of CORU is that people are in their jobs for at least 12 months. Therefore, they cannot take on a student until they have been in the job for 12 months. An important element of practice placement is the child protection and welfare field. However, when people are moving around and being promoted - as it is a relatively new organisation there is quite a degree of movement - it means people who previously would have taken students, and are committed to it, cannot do so for a time. Therefore, there are periods when we cannot get placements with people.