Ms Siobhan Greene:

I do not know the statistics on reunification, but we could certainly get those. Another colleague in the room might know those statistics, but I am afraid I do not. Regarding the roll out of the national service, the plan is that this is a five-year pilot, so it is funded for five years. During that period of time, we will roll it out and evaluate it in those three areas to see how effective it is with a view to national roll-out beyond that.

That is the kind of anticipated plan. Whether or not that is with Barnardos is up for discussion in the future but we will be involved for the first five years in developing the service and setting it up. I agree that we are worried about the level of demand we will experience. We are hoping the information advice service will be able to offer it on a general level to many more parents but in terms of those who need that high level of advocacy, we are wondering how we will meet that level of demand and are unsure what that will look like. Gathering that picture of the level of demand even through the service will be helpful in terms of plans for a national roll-out. That is the plan at the moment.