Gardaí criticise system for dealing with at-risk children

THE system of dealing with children taken into care is so ad hoc that gardaí have considered bringing children to their own homes, Garda representatives claim.

The situation will not improve under HSE plans to expand a foster care ‘emergency place of safety service’, instead of developing an out-of-hours social care service, according to the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.

Sergeant Willie Gleeson, a member of its national executive, said the new service – which places at-risk children with foster families for up to three nights – was no more than “glorified B&B”.