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

I thank the Deputy for his thoughtful question. I can certainly say that I feel very assured that when a child comes to the attention of Tusla, in the context of what is going on within the family, and if there is an immediate risk to the child's safety, the processes are in place for supporting the child and that the risk is removed.

Subsequent to that, and with regard to the second part of the question, there are processes for analysis of the issues and circumstances and the best ways of supporting the child in the context of the family, prioritising the child in the context of the other children and families Tusla has to address in the different areas. I am aware that those are arenas where the processes and numbers of people who are working in Tusla need to be improved and are being improved with various action plans and reform plans in place. This is in light of many of the difficulties it has experienced, even in the last year. It is not as good as any of us would like to see it, but I know that plans are in place for reforms.

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