Ms Siobhan Greene:

Any changes to the system that would help to stabilise the care system would be worth considering. I am no expert and cannot answer specifically about rates of pay and stuff like that and so I will not answer that aspect of the Deputy's questions. It is really important that all aspects are resourced. Just as foster carers need resourcing, the reunification for parents also needs to be resourced. Regardless of the care plan and where children are going to live, the system must resource that adequately.

Regarding the Deputy's a point about therapeutic interventions, both children in care and the parents of children in care should be prioritised for therapeutic interventions. They are in the care of the State and potentially going home to parents. If parents need therapeutic intervention for addiction services - we have talked about that today - or mental health, they should be prioritised for that. Likewise, so should children in the care of the State. They should bump straight to the top of the list for whatever therapeutic intervention they need.