Ms Claire Quinn:

I will speak to that exact point in the context of a matter we specifically brought up in our submission that relates to section 47 of the 1991 Act. When we work with children with complex needs who are before the courts, typically, they do not have only one need. It is not just a welfare need. Typically, our complex children may have needs in respect of mental health, the disability sector or education. We have seen that the joint protocol has helped with collaboration and different agencies working together. The proposed Bill speaks to that and seeks to enhance that interagency co-operation.

However, we believe in going a step further to allow the court a mechanism to make a direction against one of those agencies to support the care planning for a child. As EPIC stated, Tusla can only go so far in providing for the welfare of a child. It does not have access to mental health or disability services, or educational supports, for a child. It would support the child's care plan if there were to be a mechanism to support and assist the court to make directions on who has responsibility for a child's needs and be able to act on that.