Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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41. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of times she has met with senior management of Tusla since January 2019; and the subjects of discussion at those meetings. [14490/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I have met with members of the Tusla, the Child and Family Agency Senior Management team on two occasions since the beginning of January 2019. The subject of discussion at one meeting was the allocation of the additional €1.5m in funding to Family Resource Centres (FRCs) this year. The second meeting related to the potential use of additional resources in 2019 to meet the requests of an individual Family Resource Centre.

However, I should clarify for the Deputy that I have met with members of Tusla senior management on a number of occasions since January. However, these were encounters in the course of the business of my Department.

For example, on 19th February I attended the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs of which the Deputy is a member. The Committee was considering the impact of Brexit. A representative of Tusla senior management attended the Committee along with me and my officials that day.

Earlier this week, I launched an Outcome Report of a Stakeholder Workshop on the Sustainable Development Goals through the Lens of the Child. The launch was in my Department in conjunction with the Geary Institute of University College Dublin. A representative of Tusla senior management attended the launch along with many other guests.

I had not organised meetings with Tusla senior management but I clearly met with members of Tusla senior management on those occasions.