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

I thank the Deputy for her ongoing interest in this area. I am aware that the rollout of Tusla’s after care policy has been uneven across areas, particularly in the minority of Tusla areas that have recruitment and retention problems. However, overall the service has improved considerably in recent years. Each year, around 500 young people who have been in care turn 18 years of age. The most recent data available relates to September 2018 when there were 2,366 16 and 17 year olds, and young adults, who have an aftercare worker.

Of those assessed as needing an aftercare worker, 93% had one assigned to them. The majority of young adults receiving aftercare services had an aftercare plan according to the most recent data.

Of the 1,979 young adults aged 18 to 22 years in aftercare, there were 393 young people in aftercare in university or other third level college. A further 272 were completing their second level education. In terms of other education and training, 592 young adults were in vocational training, PLCs and accredited training courses. At this time there is limited data on the breakdown of the remaining 700 young people who are either working, unemployed or are in receipt of disability services. Tusla is developing systems to provide further detail in this area, and I have asked that this work be expedited.

Tusla has 100 approved aftercare posts including 11 vacancies, and the NGO sector is funded to provide a further 18 posts. While this works out as an average caseload of 20 per aftercare worker, some young people need more extensive support while others may only need occasional advice and help in accessing State supports. For example, 45% of young people in aftercare remain living with and supported by their former foster carers. This group generally requires less input from their aftercare worker than a young person leaving residential care. They have differing needs which inform how Tusla supports them.

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