Children waiting over a year for suitable long-term placement, health watchdog finds

Foster services in Sligo, Leitrim and West Cavan struggled when it came to placing siblings together. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Health watchdog Hiqa has again highlighted the difficulties posed by a shortage of qualified foster carers, with a new report into fostering in Sligo, Leitrim and West Cavan showing two children had been waiting more than a year for a suitable long-term placement.

The inspection report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) also showed there were an estimated 26 'unmet' requests in 2020 and that the foster service available in the area was limited in some ways, including being able to place siblings together.