Ms Tanya Ward:

I was going to answer on the education and welfare side and pass over to Dr. Corbett to talk about the care side. For children in the care system, there is generally a very good take-up of education. For those children who are not in education, what concerns us is that sometimes there is no education and welfare officer following up. If you scratch below the surface of what has happened, it is because Tusla does not have enough education and welfare officers to serve the community. Every year, we advocate for an increase in the numbers of education and welfare officers. Tusla has been advocating for the same thing. There have been some increases over time but, to be honest, we do not have enough. Education and welfare officers should be critical for children in the care system, making sure they are attending school and if they have not been attending, finding out why not and identifying what additional support they require. I will pass to Dr. Corbett.