Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tusla provides dedicated aftercare supports to the group of young adults who reach 18, after they are 18. It uses its resources to do that. On the question on children in direct provision who are in the care of their families, some of the questions relate to direct provision, which is under the remit of another Ministry. Perhaps some of the Deputy's questions are appropriate in that regard. In the context of my responsibilities, I work very closely with the Minister for Justice and Equality to ensure our officials, including the Tusla officials in my Department, come together with the gardaí in a number of working groups, including the strategic liaison committee and other working groups, to look at ways of ensuring the protocols and the ways of working together to support children in care are of the highest possible standard. We also acknowledge that reforms are needed. They have identified actions and they are being implemented on a number of levels. They are being implemented at a higher level with the Garda and my officials in Tusla in addition to the work that is going on on the ground. I am happy to say I have visited a number of direct provision centres around the country with an eye on ensuring the children who are there in the care of their families have access to the Tusla services I have indicated.

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