Ms Iris Mockler:

I will speak about the ongoing engagement in terms of the day-to-day work at the micro level. It is very important for parents to feel heard, respected and included in the process. It is important to have a very clear roadmap around what the parents' role is within the process and the care plan for their child. The acknowledgement of any positive changes that they make is important. In fairness to the local social workers here, they do respond. They look for three-way meetings where parents are heard and respected and have an opportunity to engage in a way that they feel heard, their role is valued and they have a participatory role in their child's life and development. It is very important for the parents that they are part of the process and that Tusla engages with them.

In terms of roadblocks around visits, something that came to mind in terms of the under-resourcing goes back to what Senator Ruane mentioned about the idea of settling. Sometimes an agreement is made in the early days of a full care order whereby it is agreed that a parent will see a child perhaps four times a year, an hour or two at a time. That plan is then taken as a given and is not reviewed again. It is a pity that there is not more time or resources to be able to review that. People and families change and those things could be reviewed on a more ongoing basis with that support. Perhaps that is the resources piece. We are afraid to review because then it is going to require more resources, particularly if access is supervised, because the access worker needs to be there. That is the reality of it, unfortunately.

In terms of justice and legal aid, in my experience of parents they generally do get it and we support them in linking with legal aid. Judges are very supportive of that. They generally do not want parents in court unrepresented. Unfortunately, I am aware of circumstances where people are working but they are just above the threshold. It is really unfortunate then that sometimes they have to go and pay a solicitor themselves, which can be prohibitive and can lead to debt.