Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Bhí mé chun a rá faoi Tusla ná go bhfuil jab aige ó thaobh daoine óga de ach go h-áirithe a bhfuil i ndainséar ó thaobh a n-aithreacha nó a máithreacha nó an áit ina bhfuil siad ina gcónaí, agus díriú ar an sórt saol a bhfuil acu i dtreo agus go mbeadh saol níos fearr acu. Bhí tuairiscí le déanaí faoi contaetha Lú agus na Mí, the Louth-Meath report from Tusla in 2015, which was appalling and dealt with child care and child welfare in those counties. It identified very significant problems with child welfare and child care. Subsequent to that, and due to the intervention of Tusla and the greater involvement of the HSE and other child care providers in County Louth, there has been a significant change and things are improving. I continue to be concerned about the value for money we are getting from some private service providers which provide child care facilities in remote rural areas to children who have been placed in care, often by the courts. Some have no footpaths or places for recreation. The children may not be from the community and are being watched 24 hours a day. These issues lead to some of the problems of which Deputy Fitzpatrick and I are aware.

We need to re-examine the type of interventions available for children in care or who are in trouble with the courts. Not all interventions are successful or welcome. Private service providers offer their facilities to Tusla. In doing so, they decide where the places are and many other things. They are extremely well paid. The State pays, on average, about €250,000 a year for each child that is in care. It is a major resource and I welcome the money that is spent, but I am not satisfied that it is properly spent in every case. I have given my colleague an extra two minutes.

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