Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. I am concerned about children who have been in care who are released into society at the age of 18. What is our responsibility as a nation and State towards these children? Focus Ireland has pointed out that these children are released from a protected environment into the great unknown without support or care. Is it right that we consider that once children reach 18, they no longer have the same needs and requirements they had at seventeen and a half? Focus Ireland has close contact with these young people and is aware of the pitfalls facing them, such as drugs, prostitution etc. We need measures to protect them and keep them out of such situations when they are most vulnerable.

With regard to the responsibility of the statutory bodies, I welcome the Ombudsman's report. I support my Dáil colleague, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, in her call for a date for a referendum. She chaired the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children on which Senator Alex White was a member. We owe it to our children to set that date. Many Senators have already mentioned how much we cherish our children, but let us see in practice how much we cherish them and set the date. Deputy O'Rourke said there is a budget allocated for the referendum, so why has it not happened?

I would like to comment on a situation that has arisen in my area. When children seem to fall between many stools where no statutory body wants to take responsibility, it is the child who loses out. The situation in question concerns a child whose mother died and who at the age of 14 stopped going to school and was engaging in drugs and alcohol. No family member was able to control the child and the social services were called in. Gardaí were also involved. When the family sought a report on how social services were progressing with the child, a report was not provided. The family has never been provided with access to a report, even though it was involved in all meetings and discussions. The family has no knowledge of the outcome of the professional assessment of the child, who is still in a precarious and dangerous position. I am sure, however, that if anything happens to this child, the finger will be pointed at the HSE. This is preventable.

Why does the HSE not provide families with information and make reports available to them so as to prevent situations arising, such as what has happened in the case of Daniel McAnaspie? It is extraordinary to think he was probably murdered by children who have been neglected by the State. He was knifed in the throat by his peers. Why is the State failing these children? They are allowed run riot without anybody taking care of them or responsibility for them. While I believe the Minister of State is doing his best, we must do more. I do not expect he will announce a date today for the referendum or promise more money etc., but the buck stops with him and he has a responsibility. I urge him to expedite the date for the referendum and to include provisions for children who are over 18 and ensure they are not dropped from the system when they reach 18. They have the same needs then as at seventeen and a half. I also urge him to ensure that parents are kept informed. Four sessions with a HSE team is not adequate when a child is in serious difficulty.