Foster children removed from unsuitable homes

Children identified as being in unsuitable foster placements have been removed from those families following the publication of a critical report last week, the children’s minister has confirmed.

Frances Fitzgerald said yesterday that an intervention team to be led by a foster care expert was also being sent into Dublin North West following the findings of unsuitable foster arrangements in the area and a lack of assurances over child safety there.

The report, published last week by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), outlined a number of issues in the area, a region covering major urban places such as Blanchardstown and Dublin City centre and that has previously been criticised for aspects of its child protection systems.