Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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284. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the up-to-date position of the national service to support the parents of children in the care of the State. [24004/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised that it commissioned a scoping exercise to be carried out in relation to possibilities for improved support and services for parents of children in care. Tusla recognises that while there are some localised examples of very good practice in this regard, there has not been a uniform approach applied throughout the country to date.

At the request of Tusla's Chief Executive Officer, the Children's Rights Alliance carried out focused engagements and consultations, and examined current thinking on this issue. Tusla has advised my Department that a tendering process is in its late stages, with the intention of selecting a service provider to expand the range of nationwide supports for parents of children in care.

Tusla has advised that it is likely that this initiative will take some years to build up incrementally, and has indicated that if an appropriate model can be identified, funding for the project may be available for a number of years.