Children in Care

Thursday, 2 July 2026

Ceisteanna (403, 404, 405, 406, 407)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

403. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1613 of 9 June 2026, the reason the average number of placement changes experienced by children in State care, broken down by duration in care categories of less than one year, one to three years, three to five years, and more than five years, is not centrally collated by Tusla; if this data gap has been identified on Tusla’s corporate risk register or any internal audit plan; the timeline by which Tusla’s “data management and reporting systems” review, as referenced in the answer will be capable of producing this breakdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50554/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

404. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality given that Tusla’s only published placement stability metric is the number of children in their third or greater placement within the previous 12 months (328 of 5,729 children in care at end of 2025), whether her Department considers this metric sufficient to monitor placement stability across all durations in care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50555/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

405. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the 40% increase in the number of children in care experiencing three or more placement changes within a twelve-month period, from 231 in 2023 to 324 in 2024; whether this increase has been analysed by Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50556/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

406. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the number of children in care experiencing three or more placement changes within a twelve-month period is recorded on any Tusla or Departmental risk register; whether this metric is subject to any audit process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50557/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

407. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the disproportionate increase in children experiencing three or more placement changes in the Dublin northeast region, which tripled from 30 in 2021 to 91 in 2025; whether any target or action plan exists to reduce placement instability nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50558/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 403, 404, 405, 406 and 407 together.

I would like to thank the Deputy for this question regarding permanency and stability for children in the care of the State.

Tusla has developed a policy and operational document relating to permanency planning for children in care, the Pathways to Permanency Handbook. This document supports social work practitioners and decision makers in their aim to ensure stable and safe care placements for children.

Detailed information in relation to permanency and placements for children in care is available through Tusla’s annual Review of Adequacy report, available on the Tusla website: https://www.tusla.ie/publications/review-of-adequacy-reports/. Tusla also publishes data through its Data Hub, available online at: ww.data.tusla.ie/.