Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. Last week, I spoke about some of the horrors in our State care system and the fact that there were 30 deaths last year, seven of which were through suicide. It makes me very sad to see our young people dying in State care.

This is an area with which I am familiar. I would love to think that everything was all rosy in the garden, but I hate to tell Senators that it is far from it. There are some excellent social care workers and foster care parents, but we need more. We need probably twice the number that we have now. Last year, and probably this year as well, due to Covid, the system was limited in trying to get people to become foster parents and trained in fostering. Many parents who were on foster care teams were reluctant to take children into care because of Covid. These children probably ended up with in residential care, possibly in the private sector. That is a difficulty.

We need to find ways to encourage more parents, single people and those from any demographic to foster a child. If someone has a home, a bed, is Garda vetted and can provide love and support for a child, that is all a child needs. I deal with teenagers in particular. They are probably the most difficult cohort to house because people run a mile from them. I do not know why, because I find they are probably the most engaging children that people can get inside their door. They come with challenges, but once they are put on the right path they can bring people great joy.

One third of children in Dublin are placed outside their area. It is a concern that children cannot get a foster care placement in their own areas and continue with their school and the things that feel normal, such as playing in local clubs and so on. If we could get children placed in their own areas, that would help.

I will read a testament from a young person whom I know. She is 21 and is a full-time student in aftercare services. She would like to first say that aftercare services have been crucial to her in transitioning to adulthood and she is forever grateful for the support, funding and care that aftercare has provided to her in the past three years. She said she could not have achieved what she has today without their help. However, there are in her opinion a number of deficits in the way that aftercare services currently operate. She said it is important to note she is a full-time student. It is for that reason that at 21 years of age she is still supported by services. Remaining in full-time education is a requirement of such services, as Senators may be aware. She understands the principle is to keep young people in education but, however, this is often to the detriment of those who choose not to pursue education. Whatever the reason may be, they still need support. It is also a big fear she has.She has a degree in law and is currently studying to receive her masters degree. She is worried about what will have to her when she finishes her masters? It is a worry for many of her friends who are also in aftercare. There are many opportunities she wants to pursue after this year but cannot as she does not meet the criteria of full-time education required by these services. As a result, she is financially constrained. She cannot pursue opportunities such as internships, volunteering abroad and more. She understands this may not seem like a serious issue, but she believes this requirement stops young people reaching their full potential and, in the most serious cases, leaves young people homeless and without financial stability in a matter of weeks after turning 18.

Leading on to her second point, she believes that the cut-off age of 23 is too young and could be extended to meet circumstances in each individual case. This requirement again means lost opportunity for many young people who are still in need of these vital supports after the age of 23. She writes that she has struggled badly with her mental health at times but aftercare has provided vital support to her. She refers to the fear this can be cut off in as little as a year and a half. Many young people come into care and indeed aftercare with a lot of baggage. Many have mental health conditions and physical conditions and need continued support. This need does not go away just because they turn a certain age. The age of support needs to be reviewed so that the assessment can be made on an individual case basis.

On the topic of the precarious state of many young people's mental health, another issue that should be flagged is the availability and quality of psychiatric and counselling services that aftercare is in a position to offer a young person. Aftercare provided this young person with a set of ten sessions of counselling and she is forever grateful for this. However, it took for her to reach a very dangerous place mentally before she was offered this service. Now the only support she receives is from a university counsellor. Many in aftercare cannot afford prices such as €60 or €70 an hour to speak to a counsellor when this is almost half the allowance they receive weekly to support themselves for food, transport and otherwise. This is the average price of counselling from her own personal experience and may not be accurate in all cases. She believes the mental health services within aftercare services need to be improved. Mental health conditions are an unfortunate reality that many young people from care face every day.

Finally, she says so many times that she is so grateful for the aftercare service and how compassionate those involved have been to her over the years. She states that many of the issues she has flagged are not something individual aftercare workers have control of or can fix themselves. She thanks everybody again.

They are just the issues I would face with a lot of children who are in aftercare who come back to me. I was in a meeting today with Children in Poverty with a number of colleagues. They spoke about Tusla. I asked if any of the parents ever contact the family support services that are available through Tusla. They said no way, they would run a mile before they picked up the phone and talked to Tusla. That has to be our go-to for families when they are in trouble. It really should be. If families are in trouble, it should be that they pick up the phone and there is somebody there. That is the Tusla I want, the service I want for the children of this nation. If children or families are in trouble and can see breakdowns happening, the family support service in Tusla should be there. Parents are afraid even to touch the agency and are running a mile from it. That is a red flag and I want the Minister to do something about it.

The foster care service for the 36 children who are coming in is the right thing to do. I am always mindful of all those who are suffering in the world and the refugees who need our support. Is that service long term or short term for those children who are coming into care? If those kids are in short-term care, we do not want them to be moved around two or three years later. I would hope they would be in long-term care.

I am probably taking too long. On the issue of suitable residential placements, I was talking to Senator Ruane earlier about what they call Lefroy House. If a child cannot get into emergency services, if I am minding a child through emergency services myself and I cannot take another child, he or she is then put on to Lefroy House. It is a mix of young teenagers and adults. Those young teenagers have to be out of there at nine o'clock in the morning. We need to have suitable emergency places for children. The Cathaoirleach is looking at me; I am over time.