Huge increase in number of Traveller children fostered by people in Traveller community

In general, children had positive experiences of their time in foster care, as well as good relationships with their carers and social workers. Stock photo: Danny Lawson/PA

The number of Traveller children now being fostered by members of the Traveller community in the west has soared after a recruitment drive by Tusla.

A statutory foster care service inspection report for Galway Roscommon by Hiqa found that 61% of Traveller children in care were cared for by Traveller foster families last May, compared with just 3% in 2014.