Child guardians get €200k from agency

Nine firms and individuals acting as guardians to children in childcare court proceedings have received sums over €200,000 each from the Child and Family Agency this year.

Figures released by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, show that, to the end of November this year, €6.76m has been paid to guardian ad litems — court appointees who act as independent voices for children in family law cases.

The 2014 figure compares to guardian ad litems receiving €7.18m in 2013.

In response to a freedom of information request, the figures show the largest provider or guardian ad litems services in the country, Barnardos-Beacon, this year received just over €3m for the service it provides.

Barnardos has 32 guardian ad litems on its books and has called for regulation in the sector where any person can claim to be a guardian ad litems. During the year, Barnardos said the system is ‘chaotic’ and a ‘free for all’.

A spokeswoman for Barnardos yesterday repeated the agency’s call on Government to properly regulate the sector. “For a long number of years, Barnardos has highlighted the need for a properly regulated and managed system for providing guardian ad litem to the court,” she said.

“Barnardos has raised this with the HSE and now the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, to successive ministers for children, in print and elsewhere. Barnardos aim is ultimately to ensure every child has a strong voice and advocate in proceedings that impact upon them.

“It is accepted that Barnardos provides an extremely well-managed guardian ad litem service.

“Great care is taken to ensure that standards are maintained at a very high level and that the independence of guardians is protected so they are always clearly seen to operate in the interest of the children they work with.”