Ms Suzanne Connolly:

It is important to say that while we welcome the proposed legislation, we are very specific on what we want included and added. A key point is the proposed use of voluntary care as a temporary measure. We must not have a situation in which children can drift. Also key is the assumption that children will return to their parents. We are making the point that children cannot be left long term in voluntary care. There must be a maximum period within which the State will have to provide evidence for why a child should continue in care, which will be done by way of a legal system that must be gone through. Otherwise, the child should be returning home.

As a social worker who has worked with families, a key point is that parents need to be supported and given the services they require to have their children returned to their care. Also key, as we said in our submission, is ensuring from the outset that there is contact between children and their parents. That relationship must be maintained. It will require effort and work to ensure that happens. The closer children are placed to their community the better, because it ensures they can maintain the relationships they need within their community, stay in the same school, etc.