Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I will just take the Tusla one. It actually came up in the select committee on children yesterday as well, but it is no bother. I will just reference it. In terms of the funding for Tusla, an additional €170 million is being made available to the agency in budget 2026. This is in addition to the €145 million in budget 2025. Tusla itself would concede it is significantly resourced, notwithstanding it has a whole gamut of responsibilities, specifically in terms of staffing. Tusla has been very creative in terms of staffing. The agency, for example, was particularly challenged around special care, so a new grade has been introduced. Significant recruitment is also taking place. This includes advertising campaigns at home, but where we cannot match the requirement, there are also advertising campaigns abroad, too. This has resulted in nine individuals coming on board from the special care point of view. Nine are in place, six are due to be in place in the next couple of weeks and a further four are in the process of registering. Where there are challenges, therefore, huge efforts are being made. Equally, there are the kinds of initiative being supported. I mentioned sponsorship earlier. There are also initiatives around an earn-and-learn approach. The area of social work is another where there is a particular demand, so we now have the earn-and-learn apprenticeship model. There are also the tertiary opportunities for social work. A huge effort, therefore, is being made in terms of staffing, as the Deputy referred to.

In terms of day services and the earlier planning issue, a transitions programme is up and running with the Department of education to support just this area. We have moved earlier in terms of supporting people moving forward and on, but we are always seeking to move that timeframe earlier and earlier. I think the earlier it is, the maximum opportunity it gives people. This concerns not just service users or the individuals, but families. Families need to be very confident. They are used to having the school setting, as is the individual. There is a lot of confidence around that, but it is a big change when moving to something else.

The Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, also wants to talk about digitalisation.