Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not say that I did not think it could happen now nor was that what I meant. I was merely pointing out the enormous changes and improvements that have happened in child protection in the last seven or eight years. That does not mean that there is not more to be done, that children are not at risk or that we do not have further obligations to protect those who are vulnerable or in foster care.

An independent investigation is being carried on this case out by the national review panel. We should allow it to proceed to see what lessons can be learned from it and see what changes should be made and measures put in place. It is significant that mandatory reporting, which was promised as long as 20 years ago, has been in place since December. In order to realise it, Tusla has been allocated an additional €40 million for this year to recruit 300 additional staff to deal with the expected increase in referrals, to manage unallocated cases, as we do have cases that have not been allocated to a social worker, and to develop aftercare services, which are particularly important, in order that an aftercare plan is put in place for young adults when they leave care at 18 or 19 years.

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