Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)

I take it from that reply that perhaps this will be done in future by Tusla, and of course there is a role for other organisations.

On one other point, there appears to be a gap for preschool-age children. When a child is born, there may be a number of visits by the public health nurse to the home. After that, depending on whether the child goes into formal childcare, there really is no check that exists, and that is of concern. The Minister has cited ECCE data and maybe looking at that. That is something that should be considered. Unless a child is in a formal setting, who is there to check or to know? That gap is of concern.

I welcome, of course, the review of closed cases. A lot of them are advice, like parenting advice, and they will be straightforward, but that job of work is important. A look-back period built in is important and that gap should be followed through on, perhaps using ECCE data.

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