Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for her comments. On the issue of residential care and the preference for fostering, I absolutely agree. Fostering is always the preference. Of all children in care in the State, 91% are in foster care and 7% are in residential care. That shows the extent to which Tusla focuses on residential care but there are situations where a child or, often, a young person has needs. There may be behavioural needs or needs related to family circumstances or wider societal circumstances related to where the young person is coming from such that the traditional foster model that has worked so well and is so good for the vast majority of young people in care is not suitable. It is necessary to have a range of specialists looking after that child or young person around the clock and, unfortunately, the number of those cases has grown significantly in recent years.

That is why we have seen the increase in residential care. It is not through choice but necessity.