Two weeks ago, HIQA published an assessment of Tusla's foster care services in Cork which, as the Taoiseach well knows, has a quarter of the country's children. Tusla was compliant in only two of the 12 standards assessed. One example is that some children with complex needs taken into State care by Tusla in Cork were housed in hotels. The report is the latest among scores of reports that finds Tusla is not compliant with national standards for foster care in all of its 17 service areas.

HIQA has the power to monitor Tusla but has no power of sanction. This is farcical. It can close down nursing homes overnight and everything else. The Alliance of Birth Mothers Campaigning for Justice is advocating for these children. The group has written to the Taoiseach. A letter was handed to him by a Fianna Fáil Deputy. The group has asked to meet the Taoiseach. He was well able to question the then Minister, Ms Zappone, when he was sitting in this seat, but he has done nothing about it. What is going on in terms of how children are being treated is a present-day scandal.

I thank the Deputy.

It is bad enough that they are being taken into care but to be neglected in care in this way is shocking.

As the Deputy pointed out, a follow-up report was done on an earlier report on the foster care service in Cork. The follow-up report continues to reveal deficiencies, in particular of staffing levels, in the Cork area. The crucial issue is the lack of social workers. Tusla has a remediation plan in place to try to bring in the necessary social workers, in particular at the relevant degree of qualifications, into the area. I am happy to follow up with the Deputy directly on how the plan is being implemented. It is something that I have raised with both the chief executive and the chair of the Tusla board.