Mr. Andrew Murphy:

The areas that are particularly prevalent are allegations; difficulties with access, demands placed on foster carers, difficulties around arrangements, all of that kind of stuff; and after care. We have come a long way in dealing with the after care issue. There is a national standardised process rolled out around that which has worked really well. Underlying all of the issues is a communications issue in terms of with working with Tusla, the demands placed on foster carers, their understanding of the limits of their role, their desires to be able to be parents to these children while being able to enjoy family life, being able to provide these children with the normal experiences. Sometimes that goes wrong and things do not go to plan. Things can be reported on or understood in different ways and there can be difficulties in trying to work all of that out so that everybody can come to an understanding of the situation. Relationships can be eroded during those times of conflict, particularly in respect of allegations if a child has a perception that he or she was mistreated. A foster carer might have a totally different understanding of what happened but that child might have to be removed for their own safety and the placement might naturally have to end at that point. It is a very complicated and convoluted situation.