Ms Emily Logan:

It is fair to say there are people now in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs from education and that they are beginning to talk to each other. I know that in terms of the Child and Family Agency, efforts are being made to work across education. It is at the early stages but the signs are good and we should be encouraging people to do that. The teachers in the DEIS schools first pick up the fact a child is being neglected, that a child's behaviour is withdrawn or that there is a problem before the child is ever referred to the social care system. It is very important to see health and social care working together.

Having said all of that, time and again, we meet many individuals who are really committed. I feel very positive that there are many people in Ireland who care about these children and families and who are willing. We need to get the framework, the policy, the leadership and the accountability right and we will have more positive things to report.