Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister confirmed that all GALs appointed by Barnardos are Garda vetted. Could she confirm that all GALs currently in the system who are working with vulnerable children are Garda vetted? Could she indicate “Yes” or “No”? If not all guardians ad litem working with vulnerable children are Garda vetted, does the Minister not think that is an area of serious concern? Such positions involve considerable exposure from a child protection perspective.

The Minister has yet to answer the question on the fees charged. One guardian ad litem was paid €317,000 in one year. Does the Minister consider such a fee is justifiable? At a time when we do not have sufficient social workers working with vulnerable children, when the youth work budget is being cut and so many cutbacks are being made in the Department, does the Minister consider it justifiable to pay €317,000 to one individual in legal fees from a budget of €31 million? The Minister cannot stand over that.

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