Scottish care system had ‘run out of room’ for Irish children

It has emerged that Scotland stopped taking Irish children into its care facilities in recent years because it did not have enough space for them in its care system.

Figures obtained under FOI from the Scottish Executive show that in 2011 there were 11 requests for the placement of Irish children in Scottish secure units, but just five were approved.

Of the remaining six applications, one was withdrawn and the other five were rejected because in the words of the Scottish Executive, there was “insufficient capacity within the Scottish Secure Estate to accommodate the request”.