Children in Care

Thursday, 2 July 2026

Ceisteanna (408)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

408. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla has conducted any internal audit, review, analysis, or risk assessment of the impact of repeated placement instability on educational attendance, mental health outcomes, behavioural presentations, or long-term permanency outcomes for children in care; if no such audit, review, analysis, or risk assessment exists, to confirm this directly; if one is planned; the timeline for when it will be commissioned and completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50559/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

The department and Tusla recognise the importance of placement stability, and many studies both in Ireland and elsewhere have highlighted the benefit of quality and stable placements in improving outcomes for children in care.

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.

More 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: www.tusla.ie/publications/review-of-adequacy-reports/.

Tusla also publishes data through its Data Hub, available online at: www.data.tusla.ie/.