Vulnerable children in State care facing 'desperate situation', Children's Ombudsman says

Funding and human resources to provide appropriate placements for children have not been progressed 'due to a combination of Government intransigence and neglect of this sector'.

The Ombudsman for Children has said Ireland must ask itself how it appears “unable to provide a highly vulnerable child, in the care of the State, with a safe and stable place to live”.

Dr Niall Muldoon was reacting to the latest batch of reports published by the Child Law Project, which highlighted a lack of special care placements, as well as concerns about the availability of foster and residential care.

The volume of reports also included cases where sexual or criminal exploitation of children in State care was suspected.

Dr Muldoon said: “The last volume of case reports published by the Child Law Project once again demonstrates the desperate situation facing so many of these vulnerable children in Ireland today. 

It is unheard of that judges now have to continuously and repeatedly hold Tusla to account for their failings in their statutory duty to children. 

"It is not only judges that are worried. I have heard from social workers, social care workers and guardian ad litems about their real fear for the welfare of these children. 

"The shortage of appropriate placements for children, at all levels [foster, residential and special care] is not a new phenomenon and has, in fact, been flagged since the abolition of high support units by Tusla, in 2016. 

"However, the required funding and human resources have not been progressed due to a combination of Government intransigence and neglect of this sector.” 

Ombudsman for Children Niall Muldoon: Foster carers and the 'invisible army of kinship carers' must be given proper recognition through much more financial and professional support.

He said Ireland had to ask itself how it had fallen so far as a country that it appeared "unable to provide a highly vulnerable child, in the care of the State, with a safe and stable place to live, a social worker, a trusted adult that they know will care for them”. 

He added foster carers and the “invisible army of kinship carers” must be given proper recognition through much more financial and professional support.

Dr Muldoon raised concerns a commitment to Government funding for the Child Law Project to continue its work beyond October has not yet been given.

He urged the Government to either re-invest in the programme, or tender for a replacement.

Tusla chief executive Kate Duggan said the Child Law Project's work and publication of its reports “are pivotal for fostering learning and continuous improvement for all stakeholders”.

She said Tusla had been challenged by the increase in the number of children and young people with more complex needs, who also require access to other specialist services, such as disability, mental health, and addiction services to better meet their needs.

She said the agency had previously pointed to challenges relating to the “provision of special care in securing appropriate placements”.