Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister for her reply. She will recall that this issue was addressed extensively during the passage of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill. The Minister indicated that the national child care information service is at pre-tender stage. Perhaps she will indicate how soon it will be in situ? Also, will it address what has not heretofore been routinely collated, namely, the data I am seeking? Can the Minister give an assurance in that regard?

Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory obligation on the HSE to form a view in regard to each person leaving care, in terms of his or her need for assistance. The Minister relied extensively on that provision, in my efforts to amend the more recent Child Care (Amendment) Bill, to guarantee aftercare to young people in State care post-18 years. The Child Care Act 1991 states, "subject to resources", which in my view is the fault-line in terms of young people leaving care at 18 years of age and finding themselves with no aftercare provision. This does not occur in a traditional family environment of whatever making in Irish society today. Children in care should be no less deserving of a continuum of support at what is a difficult point in their adult lives.

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