Child and Family Agency
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-23
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Ruairí Ó Murchú (SF), Louth

I accept that. We have spoken on many occasions previously of the need for earlier intervention and family supports, and even in other cases where children need to be taken out of places that are not safe for multiple different reasons. We have spoken as well about the fact that we need more foster carers, social care workers and social workers to deliver the framework. However, I again ask what the process is in relation to those children with the disputed age. Is the Minister considering moving away from special emergency arrangements, which are not fit for purpose? What will the time frame be? There are huge dangers. Guardians ad litem and a number of others have given out about them.
Has the Minister the numbers in relation to those that are in SEAs at this point in time?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-23