Ms Marissa Ryan:

Due to the fact that we only work with children and young people who have left care including those who have become parents up to 26 years old, we do not work directly with foster carers so I do not have anything to add to what my colleague has said.

On the diversity question, I agree absolutely. The AkiDwA ideas were very good and necessary and there is a lot that can be done in that space. In EPIC, we are also looking at how we recruit, how we make it very clear that we want our organisation - it is part of our new strategic plan actually - to reflect a modern Ireland. It might be a question that would be really interesting to discuss with the Irish Association of Social Workers as well because I am sure it is advancing thinking on how its members can diversify its own profession as well. Tusla has done a good job in this year's fostering campaign in openly staying that it wants dedicated foster carers for, and from, Travelling communities. There was also a lot of focus on LGBTI parents. That is really positive recognition but we have so much further to go. Committee members should definitely keep asking the questions and I hope there will be more robust discussion on this topic.