Results 221-240 of 1,061 for speaker:Séamus McGrath

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank everybody for being here this morning. I thank them for the work they do. I appreciate the heavy burden that is on them in Tusla. There were over 100,000 referrals last year, which was a significant number. We are discussing issues of concern but I am sure that the witnesses make very many positive interventions on a day-to-day basis and that must be acknowledged. I thank them...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Those are children that we effectively have no background on in terms of family connections.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: What is the age range?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: That means approximately 20% are potentially under the age of 16.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: That is still a high number. We have no traceability in terms of-----

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: How many are reunited? What kind of success rate does Tusla have in reuniting minors with their families?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I think these figures are for 2024. Is there a similar level of activity this year?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: That would be reflective of an increase in numbers.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: There has been an increase of approximately 20% in the numbers of separated minors presenting for international protection.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: The vast majority will not be reunited with any family, according to the witnesses' historical experience. They will remain in the care of the State.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Okay. I am going to hop between topics. On procurement, there is an issue of non-compliance. There is a figure of €5.4 million. When that was investigated, was it considered that there was value for money in all of that?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It was just a case of procedures not being followed. There is no concern around value for money, conflicts of interest or anything like that.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It was just that procedures were not followed.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: A number of members pointed to legal costs and plaintiff costs. There is a figure of €870,000 in one case when the compensation involved was less than €50,000. It seems extraordinary for that level of legal cost to be involved in a case where the compensation was so low. How many legal cases involving Tusla are pending at present?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Any kind of legal case.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Can I get an idea of how many we are talking about?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Okay. However, there are multiple other legal cases.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: The witnesses see it as standard for the work they do that there would be a number of legal cases always under the-----

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: There are two plaintiffs in respect of whom costs have not been settled. Do we have an indication when those costs will be settled?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I will move to the welfare checks that are being carried out in respect of the Covid cases or those cases arising from the period of March 2020 to February 2022. A significant number of checks are going to take place in that regard. Do we have an indication as to how long that process will take?