Tusla to tackle failures in foster services

Tusla, the child and family agency, said it will address serious shortcomings highlighted by an inspection report into its fostering services in parts of Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow, which included a shortage of social workers and foster carers.

The announced inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) took place over four days in February and found the foster care service was compliant with just one of the eight standards reviewed and were majorly non-compliant in four standards.

Hiqa said the level of foster care service in Dublin South West, Kildare, and west Wicklow had actually deteriorated since a previous inspection in 2016.