John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this timely report. I read through the recommendations and commentary as I waited to contribute to the debate. I will relate my experience of dealing with Tusla, about which I spoke to the Minister previously, the files it creates and its activities in respect of foster families. Questions are raised with us at our clinics along with complaints about the agency and how foster families are treated, and complaints from the families from whom children have been taken. I understand the confidentiality requirements around these issues but some way has to be found for Oireachtas Members who have been approached about them to make representations to a secure unit within her Department in order that we at least know the rights and wrongs of the issues we have raised are being dealt with. Unfortunately, my experience is that that does not happen. Vulnerable families who are worried about their children and who are seeking their return want to know what is going on. When they make a complaint, that cannot be processed. I find that difficult to take when I am dealing with vulnerable families and young children. Will the Minister address the issue of allowing access to representation through Members, bearing in mind the confidential nature of the issues being raised?

I understand that indemnity for foster families was not included when responsibilities in this area were transferred to Tusla and, therefore, no indemnity is in place for these families. This has been brought to my attention by Irish Foster Care Association, which has been lobbying for the reinstatement of the indemnity. Will the Minister explain why there is no cover and what will be done about that? Has every foster family been advised of this through the association? Have families who are not members of the association been informed that they are not covered by insurance? It is a concern and I ask the Minister to deal with it.

I share the concerns expressed by colleagues about private companies in that there is a need for accountability and transparency in this area, and the public needs to be reassured regarding transparency.

4 o’clock

In the event of siblings being separated, is there a register which clearly indicates where brothers, sisters and members of the same family are taken into care? At least with such a register we would know where they are being placed and there would be a history of care. This concerns the rights of those individual family members to know the whereabouts of other members who are being cared for. That right should exist and somebody within Tusla should ensure that the entire family picture can be put in place. Where is such registry data collected? If it is not being collected, why is that the case? If it is, to what extent is it being collected and how transparent is the process?

I will comment on vulnerable families going to court. We spoke earlier of the HSE but the people to whom I refer feel completely out of their depth because of the confidential nature of the system and the weight of the legal process on the side of the State and the Department. In some instances, these people feel it is almost impossible to get appropriate representation for those who require it. Something must be done to strike a balance between the State having all the representation and the families concerned having some members taken from parents. They should be properly represented in the court system.

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