Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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710. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the budget that has been allocated to ensure the success of the proposed changes to the guardian ad litem scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32317/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In 2025 payroll budget for the Department has funded certain newly appointed staff members of the GAL Executive Office including a Director of the Service, Head of Corporate Services and the Head Guardian ad litem. A dedicated team of nine staff have also been redeployed within the Department to prepare for the commencement of the Guardian ad litem National Service. €400,000 non pay costs have been allocated in 2025 to further support the Executive Office establishment.

The Department have made budget provision to pay the fees being submitted by Guardians ad litem to the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) 2024 which was in the region of €10,000,000 in 2024. The Department also made budget provision for the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) to pay €11,000,000 to Tusla for legal services incurred on behalf to the Guardians ad litem. When the new service is established the resources available to TUSLA now to support the delivery of the GAL service will remain available pending final agreements as part of the normal estimates process.

As part of the Estimate process for 2026, the Department will also seek funding for requirements as identified by the Director to ensure successful operations of the national service.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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711. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of guardian ad litem it is proposed will be employed under the proposed changes to the guardian ad litem scheme; the number of children each guardian ad litem will have responsibility for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32318/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Information available to the Department of Children Disability and Equality through the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) for 2024 indicate that there are one hundred individuals appointed as Guardians ad litem to approximately 3,500 children. The Executive Office is in the process of undertaking an analysis of this data so as to develop an operating model including the numbers of Guardians ad litem required in the provision of the Guardian ad litem National Service.

This potentially includes the direct employment of Guardians ad litem and / or the contracting of Guardians ad litem through a panel system or a combination of both options. The numbers of Guardians ad litem and pay grades of staff employed within the Service is yet to be finalised and approval will also be required from DPENDR. Approval will also be required from DPENDR for the hourly rate to be paid to Guardian ad litem on a panel. The Department is considering options and engagement will then commence with DPENDR for approval to proceed.

An analysis was undertaken by the Executive Office on the information provided to the Department by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) by the Executive Office on the caseloads for Guardian ad litem for 2024. The average numbers of children per Guardian working fulltime was 53. However, variances were significant ranging from Guardians ad litem managing from 18 children to over 100 children. The Executive Office is in the process of formalising case allocation and management system which will ensure appointments are equitable and professional informed to ensure the rights of all parties are met in a fair and transparent manner.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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712. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the different pay bands there will be, and the criteria for each pay band, under the proposed new guardian ad litem scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32319/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is working to establish the new GAL service in line with legislation. Following analysis the Department is formulating a proposal on the potential pay and resourcing model for the Guardian ad litem Service for submission to DPENDR for approval and sanction

The potential alignment of the Guardian ad litem role to a paygrade within the Civil Service will consider existing rates and equivalent/ similar professional roles and grades. The process of engagement with representatives from DPENDER on the new GAL service has commenced and the outcome of these discussions will also inform the Estimates process for 2026.