Shortage of foster carers sees 57 Midlands children housed outside area

Because the Midlands has a shortage of foster carers, 57 children from there have been housed outside the area, health watchdog, Hiqa, has found.

The Midlands reported the second-highest national increase in private placements during the first-quarter of this year and “a number of these children were placed a long distance from the area”, reducing access to family and friends and, in some cases, affecting schooling.

The inspection was conducted in September and October last year. The area comprises Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, and Longford and had 204 foster care households. Of those, 143 were general foster-carers, with whom 274 children were placed, and 61 were relative foster-carers, looking after 94 children.