Promises must be kept to protect vulnerable children in care

IT has finally been recognised that children in care are one of the most vulnerable groups living in our society and that every measure possible needs to be taken to protect them.

Yet even now in our enlightened post-Ryan Report era, their rights are still being compromised due to a plethora of mind-boggling legal anomalies, and what should be easy-to-resolve issues.

We know that at the end of 2009, there were 5,334 children in care. The figures vary across the country, with the highest proportion of children in care in Dublin North-East – 60 children per 10,000 under 18 in care – and the lowest rates in the west, where 41 children per 10,000 under 18 in care.