Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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767. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of HIQA inspections conducted on foster care services annually since 2019, across each of the 17 Tusla service areas, including the key findings and areas identified for improvement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25725/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, who have confirmed that a reply will issue directly to the Deputy.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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768. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps taken in response to recent HIQA reports highlighting deficiencies in the governance and oversight of foster care services; the means by which the Department is working with Tusla to ensure compliance with national child protection standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25726/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Both Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high-quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. This is achieved through the application of Regulations and Standards that govern the placement of children and young people.

Tusla and the Department continue to take the issue of noncompliance with HIQA standards very seriously. Tusla endeavours to ensure that all children and families who are assessed as needing a child protection and welfare service and all children in care have an allocated worker in line with an allocation framework.

The Child Care Act 1991 is the statutory framework for child welfare and protection in Ireland. The legislation places a statutory duty on Tusla to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. It sets the legislative provisions in relation to taking children into care, and the responsibilities of the State in that regard, which aim to improve outcomes for looked after children.

Officials from my Department met with Tusla to discuss the findings and seek assurances regarding the actions set out in the compliance plan for the HIQA inspection on foster care & child protection services.

The Department continues to support the work that Tusla are doing in this area which includes a substantial number of initiatives by the agency to retain and recruit social workers and other disciplines within the service to meet the demand from referrals. Challenges in retaining staff and an on-going increase in referral rates are some of the key factors contributing to the issue.

Tusla in discharging its statutory responsibilities under the Child Care Acts must have the best interests of the child as its paramount consideration. It actively monitors every placement of every child in care to ensure its appropriateness to the needs of that child, and any concerns or breaches of standards or Regulations are addressed in this context.

The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 sets out that in any matter relating to placing of a child in foster care, or the review of the case of a child in foster care, a health board shall, having regard to the rights and duties of parents, whether under the Constitution or otherwise, regard the welfare of the child as the first and paramount consideration, and in so far as is practicable, give due consideration, having regard to his or her age and understanding, to the wishes of the child.

HIQA is authorised under Section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991 as amended by Section 26 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 to inspect foster care services provided by the Child and Family Agency and to report on its findings. HIQA monitors foster care services against the National Standards for Foster Care, published in 2003.

These standards set out management and monitoring of foster care services. Systems are in place to ensure that resources are matched to the needs of children who require out-of-home placement and provide a range of services including residential care and foster care.

All children in foster care are registered in compliance with statutory requirements contained within Article 12 of the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations 1995 and Article 12 of the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations 1995.

Additionally, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children sets out the steps which should be taken to ensure that children and young people are protected from harm. This also outlines the roles of the main statutory bodies involved in child welfare and protection: Tusla - Child and Family Agency, and An Garda Síochána. The guidance is just one of the resources available to assist with child protection and Tusla have a number of additional child protection and safeguarding information resources.