The latest report from the Child Law Project paints a disturbing picture of how children in the care system are being failed by the State, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said:
“The project’s latest analysis of child care proceedings makes for grim reading. It describes how children as young as four are being placed in residential care because there is no foster carer available.
“According to the report, there are waiting lists for the already low number of special care beds available for children. Of the 26 beds in Ireland, only 15 were found to be functioning during the summer due to staffing difficulties.
“A shortage of appropriate step-down facilities from special care and a lack of social workers for children were also highlighted by the project. In fact, Tusla figures for July showed that 19 per cent of children in care did not have a social worker allocated to them.
“The report also noted that legislation is silent on the appropriate provision for unaccompanied or separated minors coming into Ireland.
“It is concerning that extremely vulnerable children risk falling through the cracks of a creaking care system, and it is completely unacceptable the report found that the situation has deteriorated in the past three years.
“While reform of the care system for children has clearly not been a priority area for the current administration, this report must be a catalyst for change for the next government.”
November 4, 2024