Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. It is only a few short hours since he was last with us and he has returned bright and early this morning.

When I was researching material for this morning's debate, I looked, as always, to my health board, the North Western Health Board. I was a little surprised to learn the number of those in care. The vast majority of children in care are in foster care as opposed to residential care. When I came to Sligo from Offaly 20 years ago as a much younger woman, I went to Nazareth House on Monday evenings to help children with their home work. It was a huge institution which was full of sad children. I am glad that we have today moved away from residential care to the more emotional and homely setting of foster care. Today in the North Western Health Board there are between 96 and 103 children in care in the Sligo, Leitrim and west Cavan catchment area. In Donegal there are another 106 children in foster care. I am interested to see that children are cared for up to the age of 18 years after which they receive what is termed "after care". Nowadays children may not finish their full-time education until they are 24 years and I am glad to see that the Department of Health and Children is funding that aspect of care for foster children. While the funding is adequate, it could be a little better. I realise it is hard to address everything but perhaps the Minister of State could examine the provisions in this regard contained in the Child Care Act 1991.