Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have two questions for Ms Bond on her response. The first concerns child benefit. I can fully understand why the child benefit is not withdrawn from the birth family. It makes perfect sense. However, the purpose of child benefit is to deal with he additional cost of rearing a child, which, sadly, has become far more expensive in the past 12 months than it was heretofore. In that instance, those particular children are losing out. The State is making the payment through the Department of Social Protection. Surely, a similar payment should be made by Tusla for the interim window and period?

Second, I was very surprised by what Ms Bond stated in respect of the treatment of foster parents of unaccompanied minors. The State did not covered itself in glory in respect of the treatment of these children in the past. Many were found in appalling conditions. I refer to those fortunate enough to have been found. Sadly, 443 of them were never found. No one seems to care about them. Ms Bond has stated that in those instances the State is not supporting the foster parents involved in providing support, accommodation and far more to children who are coming from extremely traumatic situations. We have seen first-hand what is happening at the moment with unaccompanied minors coming from Ukraine. Such minors have been coming to Ireland from all over the world for the last 25 years. We would like to hear more from Ms Bond on that issue.

Does Ms Corridon wish to comment on her own experience of becoming a foster parent?