Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 6 November 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Discussion with CEO of Tusla on Future Developments and Update on Childcare Facilities

Photo of Lisa ChambersLisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and apologise for my absence earlier. Committees are often scheduled at the same time, so I was at another committee this morning.

I do not have a great deal to add on the "RTÉ Investigates" programme and the report. I appreciate that Mr. Gloster is limited in what he can say on that. We can say that it was a black mark and a dark day to watch that programme. It made every parent with a child in a crèche question the care they have been given. Clearly, parents were being told one thing and a very different thing was happening within the facilities.

Mr. Gloster's opening statement has recommendations for things that parents should look out for or check. There is parental responsibility to check the facility, but then there is a difficulty if the information that is provided in response is false and misleading. That is where Tusla comes in. It will take a long process to restore public confidence in childcare facilities, which is unfortunate for the vast majority of facilities that are doing an excellent job and provide the best of care, and in the staff who work in those facilities who feel as though there is a question mark over their work. That is the result of a small number of bad eggs who have effected everybody.

I congratulate Mr. Gloster on his appointment and wish him well in his tenure. He has a difficult task ahead, which he has acknowledged, but he gives the impression of being very much open to acknowledging the failures of the organisation, addressing them, and moving Tusla to a new phase or chapter, which is what is needed.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.