Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. Last week we had the Children's Rights Alliance before us and I highlighted the 8,500 Tusla referrals in April of this year alone that appears in the Tusla report. It is absolutely shocking. We are all talking about foster families and residential care. For me it is about how we can support families to be better parents, because that is the key. Obviously there are certain children we cannot keep in a family environment for various reasons but there are families who, with the right resources and supports and maybe social workers going into those family homes, could provide the best environment for that child to remain in. We just pull the child out and then try to put a plaster on the situation and it really is not the best way.

As someone who has been a foster parent for many years, the role of guardian ad litem - which Ms Ward spoke about - stops when the child turns 18. If there is one thing I am asking the witnesses for as they go out of here, it is for that to be extended to the age of 23. If that child who is in State care is in education right up to that age, they need somebody who is going to advocate for them and they do not have anybody. Such children's aftercare workers may not be great advocates for them. Even trying to get in contact with them can be very difficult. If the witnesses could talk to the Ministers for justice and for children to try to extend the role of the GAL to the age of 23 for children in State care who are in education, I would really appreciate that.

Those are the things I wanted to bring up. Monthly referrals numbering 8,500 is shocking.