Going back to the announcement in terms of the UK, I appreciate the point the Deputy raised on legislation. In that respect, we all accept that it takes some time to put legislation in place. In the interim, I particularly welcome, as I have referenced, the proactive step that has been taken in relation to guidelines. I am aware that operational guidance has issued to Department for Work and Pensions staff on pensions, universal credit and housing benefit so that all deciding officers would be absolutely aware and …

I appreciate the Deputy raising the question. We know that Tusla is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children and young people. It is important to recognise that there has been a 500% increase in arrivals of separated children seeking international protection entering the State since 2022, with the vast majority of arrivals aged 16 or 17 years of age. This has significantly impacted on Tusla's ability to provide accommodation and supports to this vulnerable cohort. Tu…

I join with the Deputy in saying what all we saw and witnessed on the programme last night has been incredibly upsetting in terms of the young people who were part of it and the experiences that they shared. I want to acknowledge that. I want to acknowledge also the staff that work with them every day. This past week, I met with social workers and social care workers. I am very conscious of the work of the foster care system and foster care families. These are very complex situations. The vast majority of children …

The disputed age has been flagged by Tusla. It is a concern of the agency. In relation to these three individuals, it will be worked through with the Department of justice. It is important that if there is any question over appropriate age, these young people are not placed with other young people who are underage. In terms of the reliance on special emergency accommodation, I want to be clear that we are doing all that we can to move away from that, to minimise it and, eventually, to eradicate a reliance on specia…

I have always been clear in communicating that the €200 per month commitment over the lifetime of the Government is hugely important. While the phase 1 report of Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan sets out the next steps towards this long-term ambition, I have not waited until now to take action. In September 2025, maximum fee caps were extended to all partner services in core funding. Budget 2026 also enables core funding to continue to support fee-control measures. It will ensure fees remain at 2021 leve…

I absolutely agree with the Deputy. There is, in many respects, a balancing act in this. We have to ensure it is affordable for parents and that enough places are made available. We spoke earlier about State-led initiatives and the building blocks extension, which will be launched this week for providers. We also have to ensure that enough staff are available and that we are supporting them. I acknowledge that €45 million was put on the table last year to support staff and another €45 million is being put on the ta…

I acknowledge the great work happening in the Deputy's constituency. It was a pleasure to visit Ballymun and see at first hand the excellent work that happens there. I am aware of the Deputy's personal commitment to advancing early years childcare provision in his constituency. Specifically, it is hugely important that we support providers and parents from an affordability point of view, but that we also support staff. I acknowledge that the €45 million is subject to an independent joint labour committee. I do not …

I thank Deputy Kerrane for the question. Tusla has statutory responsibility for the operation of special care and the provision of special care beds. The Department recognises the significant challenges facing special care and is actively engaging with Tusla to address these challenges. Tusla has indicated that difficulties in the recruitment and retention of staff are the primary limiting factors in operating special care beds. The complex needs of children require high staffing ratios, as there is a need for at l…

I acknowledge that there is an issue in terms of staffing levels for special care. We are very conscious of that. As I said, you can be dealing with very complex cases at a minimum. It is a staff requirement of seven people to one young person. In many instances, 14 staff could be required for one young person. Tusla is proactive on the ground, ensuring that there will be newer avenues or streams to bring in staff and make staff available. I have already referenced the new special care category, which is a 20% incr…

I cannot comment on HR matters for Tusla and how staff are moved or otherwise. It would be inappropriate. It is directly a matter for Tusla in relation to the management of its staff. Concerted efforts are being made, notwithstanding the challenges that are there. I have already referenced how upsetting it was to watch the experiences of and learn from young people their experiences, as we witnessed last night. It is so important that Tusla continues to be proactive in the space, particularly in the area of special…

Tusla has informed me that it has not paused its case management system. That is the confirmation that I have received from Tusla. Tusla's case management system provides a single integrated case management system that, over time, will be implemented across all Tusla services. This case management system provides a single view of each child, young person, family, care provider and others who are engaged with Tusla. Tusla is improving its case management system. Key to this is the creation of a single record for eac…

I am just providing Deputy Ó Murchú the information that was given to me from Tusla. I will ask Tusla to respond directly to his concern. I want there to be 100% clarity on the issue the Deputy raised, and I thank him for raising it. That is the information I have received from Tusla. I will ask Tusla to engage directly with Deputy Ó Murchú on the matter if there is any kind of question or concern around it. I acknowledge that Tusla teams are constantly reviewing their caseloads to ensure that children with the hig…

The Tusla staffing level is 5,661, which is an increase of 343 staff on the previous year. There has been a 3.6% increase in the number of social workers.

Yes. I will ask Tusla to make available to the Deputy a more specific breakdown on the different types of staff. I want to mention the training places for social workers because these have proven to be impactful. The number of training places has doubled over the past five years. At the end of 2025, there were 340 placements in Tusla, with further expansion planned. A social work apprenticeship has been introduced, with 34 apprenticeships starting in 2024 and 71 in 2025. The plans envisage that in 2026, we will hav…

This is a time of global uncertainty. It is a time of great difficulty and anxiety for all of society. I am more than conscious of the impact that a series of geopolitical shocks have had on people's earnings and their spending power. Inflation hurts everyone. Each crisis - Brexit, Covid-19, Ukraine, Gaza, US trade tariffs and the military action by Israel and the United States against Iran - has had a damaging impact on the price of everyday items, ranging from the weekly shop to clothing prices to topping up at t…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle as ucht an deis a thabhairt dom labhairt anseo inniu. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today on developments at the site of the former mother and baby institution at Bessborough. The legacy of the mother and baby institutions is a deeply sad one that continues to be a source of profound hurt and pain for many people across this country. I am very conscious of the sensitivity of this issue, particularly for survivors and former residents of the Bessborough institution, …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes that: — Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, operates as the single dedicated agency with a clear statutory remit; — Tusla is held to account through robust governance and oversight arrangements; — Tusla is served by well qualified staff who are committed to delivering essential child protection and welfare services to vulnerable members of society; — staff in Tusla enjoy statutory independence, necessary for the…

I begin by welcoming everyone here today on what is an extremely significant day for me in my role as Minister with responsibility for gender equality, for my colleagues across the Government, and for everybody here in the Seanad also. This time last year, it was with great pride that I addressed the Chamber to mark International Women's Day as the newly appointed Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. Today, I welcome the opportunity to address the House again on the subject of gender equality, and to upd…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an tSeanaid as ucht an deis seo a thabhairt dom. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to address the House. I welcome all those in the Public Gallery. I note that Senator Murphy O'Mahony has moved amendment No. 1, which is to delete all words after “That” and substitute text stating Seanad Éireann declines to give a Second Reading to the Institutional Burials (Amendment) Bill 2022 for various reasons listed in the amendment. Senator Boyhan should note it is actually a reasoned amendment. …

Today is an important moment in facing up to a traumatic time in our history. This State was established with the intention of moving away from the cruel and harsh regime that vulnerable children experienced in workhouses. However, after independence many of these vulnerable children remained in the workhouses, which were renamed as county homes. Others were put into orphanages, industrial schools and reformatory schools or boarded out to families. Successive tribunals and commissions of investigation have establis…