Ms Catherine Bond:

It is important to note that 30 cases is an indicative number. That figure would have to go back to Tusla to be clarified. The Deputy is correct that for every child in foster care, and every foster carer who is parenting a child in foster care, that foster carer would have to have the foster care review, the support and the supervision and information about access.

It is that sort of work. We may need to go to court on a number of occasions for that child. That is why it was important to outline specifically the roles and responsibilities of both the linked social worker and the child care and social worker. The task is enormous and we need to support our social workers to do this serious and important job. We must provide whatever supports can be offered to allow them to do that job to the best of their ability, to retain our foster carers and support our children in care because it is incumbent on everyone to ensure we retain what we have.