The focus of this paper is on the work of Ireland’s National Child and Family Agency, Tusla, in supporting children and their families. 8 While support for children and their families is a whole of government effort (many aspects of public policy impact on parenting, such as healthcare, education, housing provision, employment law and social protection) involving both public service agencies and community and voluntary organisations, under the Child and Family Act 2013, Tusla has statutory responsibility for supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children as well as the effective functioning of families. Tusla also has responsibility for offering care and protection for children where parents have not been able to (or are unlikely to) provide the care that a child needs.