Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply. Tusla should start recording and tracking this information. We all know children in care need certainty in their lives. Voluntary care arrangements are intended as temporary solutions for parents who are unable to look after their children. Unfortunately, I have come across a situation far too often in which there are children in voluntary care arrangements for a number of years. It has a huge impact on the children because they have no certainty about where they will be in a year.

This causes them great concern and anguish. A mechanism should be put in place. When a child is in care for a number of years, Tusla should pursue full care orders and have a mechanism in place to protect these children. The current system seems to be somewhat ad hocin nature, which is not acceptable.

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