Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of contact with natural family is dependent on a range of factors and I do not want to comment on an individual case. One must always ask whether it is in the best interests of the young person to have contact because there may be cases where it is not. I want to make that point. Sometimes young people deserve a second chance with another family and it sounds like that young woman has got that as well.

I assure the Deputy that there are increasing numbers of aftercare workers working directly with young people and there is an increasing budget. We are spending many more millions of euro. One of the reasons we have difficulties in connection with budgeting is because so much more money is going into the aftercare service. Over 1,457 young people are in receipt of an aftercare service. The situation has changed dramatically. It has been acknowledged by those working in the field that young people over the age of 18 are getting more supports than they ever received previously. As I say, there can always been an individual situation where for some reason it has not worked out as well as one would have liked. I recognise the Deputy's commitment and interest in this area. It is very important. We should support these young people, who have been in care for several years, after they leave care to help them to continue in education, training or employment and give them supports because they can be very vulnerable.

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