Fears over the use of hotels as Government urged to act on childcare placement crisis 

In its report on the past decade of child care proceedings, the CLP said the total number of children in care has fallen by 14%, while the proportion in foster care has fallen and the number in residential placements has increased. File picture

The Government has been urged to set up a new committee to address the crisis in childcare placements, with growing fears over the use of hotels and holiday accommodation for vulnerable young people.

The recommendation comes from the Child Law Project (CLP) and is based on its observations on 10 years of covering childcare proceedings across various courts. It also coincides with a warning from a group representing voluntary care providers that the Irish system could "collapse" in a similar way to that in the UK.