Mihaela Porumbaru, the Romanian child at the centre of a custody controversy during the summer, will return to Romania today. She will be accompanied by Ms Briege Hughes, the Dundalk woman who fought to keep her in Ireland after she was due to return in August.
Mrs Hughes is believed to be accompanying the five-year-old in an attempt to extend her visa and bring the child back to Dundalk. However, she will have to attend a meeting where officials will question her on comments she made about Mihaela's living conditions in Romania.
Mihaela Porumbaru became headline news in the summer after Mrs Hughes mounted a vigorous campaign to keep her in Ireland.
Mr Ivan Ivanoff, the president of Dambovita Child Protection Commission and Mihaela's legal guardian, said the door was now open for Ms Hughes to bring the child back to Ireland permanently.
"Mihaela will return to Romania . . . She will go back to live with her foster parents, the Gherases in Targoviste, until an adoption can be arranged," he said. However, the adoption is not likely to occur in the near future because of a ban on international adoptions from Romania.
The ban followed a damning report by the EU, which accused Romanians of baby trafficking and corruption.
Mrs Elena Gherase, Mihaela Romanian foster mother, says she is anxiously awaiting the child's return.
"I miss her very much and I have been asking all the time when is she coming back," she added. "I am so happy that she is coming home."