Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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There is a great deal in this because we have had several hearings on it. My initial question comes from what was our first discussion, which related to the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA. It pointed out that the lack of regulation it saw in the foster care area made it difficult for it to escalate cases, concerns and weaknesses. I invite the Minister to comment on that and indicate whether it is an issue she tends to pursue.

Either EPIC or the Irish Foster Care Association stated that there was a defined break at age 18 for many children in foster care. That makes it difficult for the foster carers and for the young people leaving care. There was a general sense that more needs to be done to allow young people to leave a care setting gradually. A welcome suggestion was made in terms of provision being made for adaptations in houses. That makes sense. We are dealing with the area of foster care, but aftercare is an issue that I, Deputy Rabbitte, Deputy O'Sullivan and several others have raised with the Minister as requiring further investment and work. Obviously, they are closely connected. That is a suggestion worth considering.

To a large extent this is a resource issue, but the issue of inspections is a clear weakness. It comes back to some of the Tusla references, to which I will return, but on the issue of inspections, 84% of foster carers in south Dublin and Wicklow had not been inspected in three years. Apparently, some of those were not aware that they were obliged to be inspected. I recognise there are resource issues and while the vast majority of those are likely to be healthy, positive placements, it is the risks and the weaknesses about which we should be concerned. Individual cases come to media attention, but it is the risks and the weaknesses structurally that I believe tell the real story about our child protection services.

The Minister's document makes a number of references to the Shannon report. I am somewhat encouraged by the Minister's commentary about the 24 hours service. If I am interpreting it correctly, and I hope I am, that seems to be step beyond what was previously stated as being the case, namely, that a social worker would be on site for all section 12 applications. Is that correct?