Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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390. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department plans to undertake a comprehensive and structured review of all aspects of fostering in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59802/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The vast majority of looked after children in Ireland reside in foster care and as of August 2021, this equated to over 90% of all children in care, a figure that compares favourably with our European neighbours.

The operation of the foster care system is the subject of ongoing review in my Department. Officials within the Department engage with Tusla and other stakeholders on a regular basis with the aim of continuously improving the processes and structures within the alternative care system, including foster care.

All foster care services are subject to inspection by the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA). Inspection reports of fostering services are reviewed and analysed by Department officials. The overview of these reports provides the Department with the capacity to keep the processes and structures surrounding foster care under constant review.

In addition considerable progress has been made in alternative care provision, through the delivery of a significant reform agenda in Tusla, underpinned by a substantial and high-quality evidence basis.

My focus is also on ensuring that legislation relating to looked-after children is child-centred, and fit for purpose in a modern Ireland. In 2017, Department Officials commenced a process to revise and update the Child Care Act 1991. This complex work is currently ongoing, following a consultation process that began in 2020 and enabled key stakeholders to inform and influence the development of this landmark piece of legislation. The legislation governing foster care provision forms part of this review.

In addition to the foregoing, any findings or recommendations from the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, the Ombudsman for Children, or any other relevant sources that relate to foster care are considered by my Department, with a view to informing continuous improvement of the service.