Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)

Last week, Tusla appeared before the committee. Since then, we have had two very serious incidents. There was the violent murder of a 17-year-old Ukrainian boy in a Tusla unregulated facility. Today, a man has been charged with a serious sexual assault of a ten-year-old girl who went missing from Tusla care. In light of these two incidents, if it is allowed, Tusla should, at some stage, come back before this committee and answer some of the questions that people have to ask. As a father and a resident of Dublin Mid-West, I am horrified and heartbroken for the young girl. My thoughts are with the young child. People, especially children, have a right to be safe and feel safe. Yesterday's assault has caused widespread fear in Saggart and the surrounding areas.

For some time, we have been calling for serious and meaningful engagement between the Government and the local community on the management and the future plans for the Citywest centre, including the issue of community safety and Garda numbers. It is deeply regrettable that this meaningful engagement has not happened to date. I want to apologise because I will be leaving this meeting as I have a meeting with the Ministers for justice and for children directly after this. That such an attack can occur on a State-funded accommodation centre is unacceptable. People have a right to know how this could happen. These are legitimate questions that people in my area have been asking me. How did a young child in Tusla care end up in Citywest? Why was a man issued with a deportation order in March still in the State? These are legitimate questions. I do not expect the witnesses to answer these questions. As I said, I will be taking this up with the Ministers after this meeting.

The witnesses might be able to answer a few other questions. In relation to Tusla, do the witnesses have concerns about how the State is looking after children in State-run facilities? Ms Ward mentioned the best interests of the child. I genuinely have concerns in relation to how these State-run facilities are in the best interest of the child. How many children are in these unregulated settings? As we heard, the poor Ukrainian boy who lost his life last week was in an unregulated Tusla setting. We are discussing immigration here today and possible changes to the rules relating to immigration. If a person fails to comply with a deportation order, they are breaking the rules under the existing rules. What do the witnesses think should happen in this case when someone does not comply with a deportation order?