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

I have listened very carefully to everything the Senator said in both of her contributions. I appreciate all the dimensions she identifies, the passion with which she speaks and the knowledge she brings to the subject.

I know our time is short but I have some comments. The Senator indicated that the board of management was excluded from the recruitment process. Everything she said will be noted. I was trying to outline in my initial comments that relocation does not mean that services will not be delivered. I have heard the Senator's comments about serving the whole of Dublin 8 versus a local service, or satellite and centralised services. She has argued that resources must stay in their communities and leave local community knowledge where it is. I will ask Tusla to ensure that it takes this into account and that it be committed to such practice.

From what I have said and what I understand, there have been some governance issues and that is part of what has gone on in the project. Having said that, I know the Senator has said the community has an alternative proposal. This may involve moving beyond ensuring the bridge to better services in the community, about which the Senator spoke very eloquently. I will ask Tusla to engage with the parties to hear those alternative proposals. I am happy to receive the letters mentioned by the Senator and I will pass them to Tusla if it does not have them already.

I have begun the review sought by the Senator. We have engaged with those at the highest level in Tusla. We are waiting to hear about the ongoing process before a final decision is made. Let us see what happens. Tusla is in a new era of leadership and is trying to achieve reform in the right way. That is happening. I have confidence in that but, at the same time, it is important that the Senator and other public representatives raise these matters. I will keep my eye on the matter and stay in touch with the Senator in respect of it.