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

I welcome the Minister's indication that the data system will be rolled out in 2018. Some children aged ten and 11 have been in voluntary care placements for years. These children are vulnerable and do not know whether they are coming or going. Tusla's approach seems to be "If it's not broken, don't fix it". In other words, the relationship is going smoothly. That is not acceptable for children because they want security and to know where they will be in the coming years.

Sometimes other problems arise for children in voluntary care. We have had cases where foster parents were trying to bring children abroad on a holiday but were prevented from doing so on foot of the care order. It is not acceptable that children's lives have to stand still until Tusla gets involved.

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