Report: Law should allow concerned people to seek intervention in child welfare cases

People with reasonable grounds for believing a child’s welfare is at risk should be able to go to court to seek state intervention, according to a report published by the Government.

The fifth report by thegovernment-appointed Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Geoffrey Shannon makes a series of recommendations aimed at bolstering child protection and also focuses on a shortage of suitable foster placements.

The report by Mr Shannon — one of the co-authors of the recent report into the deaths of children known to care services — was published by Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald.