Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. It has been a very valuable experience for me to listen to the experiences of foster caring families and the groups that represent them. I agree that people involved in foster care should be celebrated. I also agree very much with Ms Bairéad that a child's experience should be one of a place of safety and love and should be good. That should be a basic thing for any child. I thank Ms Bairéad for highlighting that.

I have a couple of questions. I will direct the first to Dr. O'Brien because she brought up the issue of treating children in care as a commodity through privatisation. Will she elaborate as to why she feels that needs immediate attention? What does she think is the rationale for using this model of care, for want of a better word? How common is it? Does it cost the State more in brass tacks in the long term than it would if there were direct placement through Tusla or the State's organisations?

I do not want to keep talking about monetary issues, but it was mentioned that foster carers do not need pats on the back. We do not need rounds of applause in the Dáil for foster carers like we have seen. What we need is the appropriate financial supports in place for foster carers. A number of the witnesses mentioned there has been no increase in the foster carer allowance since 2009. I am not asking them to say how much the foster care allowance pays, but will they elaborate on what they think the percentage increase should be for that? What would be adequate for foster carers to be able to provide a service to the children they look after?

The last issue I wish to raise is another one Dr. O'Brien mentioned. I do not want to direct all my questions at her. The issue of kinship crosses my door, usually through tragic circumstances, whereby somebody might have lost a sister or a brother and, all of a sudden, there are kids without a parent and the families are trying to rally around and do the best they can for those children. I know from the families' experiences after they get in contact with me that they find that the supports they get from Tusla are not adequate, not appropriate and not sufficient. Will any of the witnesses tell me what supports should be in place and how immediately they should be put in place?