Child and Family Agency
Dail Éireann — 2025-11-12
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Norma Foley (FF), Kerry

I absolutely do not in any way question Deputy Farrelly's sincerity. Equally, I have to say this is not "a knee-jerk reaction". This is an important body of work. There is concern around cases that would have closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, notwithstanding that it can be such a positive when a case is closed by Tusla. It can be a really positive outcome. I am very conscious that many cases are reopened again and again; that is the nature of the work. It is important that we take the time to do this work. A figure of €3.2 million has been made available to do it. Indeed, Tusla in general received a significant uplift in the recent budget. As a matter of fact, Tusla received an increase of more than 50% between 2020 and 2025 in terms of its budget, with a further 14% uplift again this year. It is quite significant and I do not regret one single penny of it. The welfare of children is at the heart of all of this. I am confident that the independent chair is a person of particular and significant standing in terms of child welfare. I am very confident of her independence in the chair. The work that needs to be done will be done effectively for the benefit of the children.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-11-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-11-12