Probe into foster care abuse

THE Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is investigating 19 allegations made against foster carers in Dublin North West and North Central, including some of a sexual nature.

Four of the investigations are under way in Dublin North West and 15 in Dublin North Central, according to documents released to the Irish Examiner by HIQA under Freedom of Information legislation.

The allegations came to light during a review of fostering services in seven local health areas, three in Dublin and four in Cork. HIQA expects to publish a report of its findings in the next two months.

A spokesperson for the HSE said 15 of the investigations were complete. In a statement, the HSE said it had acknowledged that HIQA identified “anomalies” in relation to childcare practice in Dublin North West and North Central and an implementation plan had been put in place to address the issues.

“As the full report of this HIQA inspection is still awaited by the HSE, we cannot comment further on this matter at this time,” the HSE said.

Fine Gael has claimed young people in state care face “death by neglect” after it emerged a 16-year-old boy awaiting psychiatric assessment was left overnight in an internet cafe by the HSE because there was no- where else to take him.

The Dublin teenager’s plight was raised in the Dáil by Fine Gael children’s spokesman Alan Shatter, who demanded immediate action to prevent the youth falling into drugs and prostitution and an early death.

“This is a troubled young person who needs serious coherent co-ordinated intervention and who is being failed, and emergency social workers who are dealing with this young man are at their wits’ end to get a response from management within the HSE.

“He is becoming drug dependent and he is falling into a street life where he will be exposed to drug running and prostitution. On Tuesday night of this week this young man was left in an internet cafe all night by the HSE because there was no suitable location to accommodate him. This young man could potentially be another Tracey Fay,” he said.

Mr Shatter also expressed alarm that a 17-year-old sexual abuse victim with severe mental health difficulties had been “cut loose” by the HSE. The teenager is known to HSE officials in Tralee and Naas but neither will take responsibility for him.

The youth has been psychiatrically assessed but there was no follow- up despite the teenager falling into a street life in which he was becoming drug dependent, according to Mr Shatter.

He expressed fears that both teenagers could be abandoned “to wander the streets tonight”.

Mr Shatter also raised the matter of a 16-year-old boy who has “severe problems” and has been missing for eight days as further proof the system was failing children.

The HSE said it will “immediately follow up on both cases” once it receives full details from Mr Shatter. It said it is satisfied that appropriate care arrangements are in place for these children.