Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. I did not realise she came with all that experience in foster care and I want to acknowledge it. I want to say to her that I am very happy to sit down with her and hear, first-hand, her lived experience of it. Obviously, she is 100% right. I personally believe that the foster care setting is the right setting. The rate is at 87.2% of all children in care. I would like to see more and more. I will not get through everything but I am very happy to meet with her again.

On some of the points she raised on the GAL system and all of that, I am committed to reforming that piece of work with the GALs and see what we can do. Preparation is underway for a new GAL office and a director is in place but it is a very important link between the system.