Mr. Bernard Gloster:

There are two parts to that. The first thing, and I genuinely say this from anecdotal evidence as well as from all the data we collect, is that I am enormously proud of the aftercare workers we have throughout Ireland both working for Tusla and for funded partners. Many of them form relationships with the young people that go well beyond the limitations of the formal 23 years of education. Sometimes, those relationships can be so important for many years after. I am so enormously proud of that, and I could never say enough about it. We must do more of that, however, and perhaps enable it to be formalised more.

During Covid-19, we introduced a system whereby anybody who was turning 23 and about to formally leave aftercare could stay in the provision and support system if he or she wished. That was one of the things we learned, which I believe will help when we come to produce the aftercare plan at the end of this year, just like the foster care plan. The Minister has really indicated a very strong commitment to trying to look at that and ask about the totality of government; not just Tusla but the totality of government in our social welfare, housing, childcare and education systems. What is the totality we can do that recognises the importance of the challenge for people who grow up in State care and who leave State care? One of the natural conclusions to that will be an extension of that very strict limitation that is in place the moment on formal supports stopping at the age of 23.