The plight of Ireland's foster carers: 'Do I give the kids back? Or do I face poverty in my old age?'

The Irish Examiner recently sat down for a lengthy discussion with foster carers involved in the Movement 4 change in foster care group. Here is what they said, and Tusla's responses to the issues they raised.

Despite all the frustrations, there is no stopping foster carers with members of the Movement 4 change in foster care group unable see themselves leaving fostering, instead they want State foster care to be the gold standard. File picture

"I have a decision to make," says a woman we will call Jane. "Do I pause my fostering and give these kids back, a placement breakdown because of this shortfall I didn't know about? Or do I put myself at risk of old age poverty?"

As a man once said on the Carlsberg ad, they are not great options. And following a lengthy discussion with a group of foster carers who have formed their own grass roots organisation, it is clear that they will continue to care for children, many of whom have been with them for years after being entrusted into their care by the State. But it does not mean that the issues go away.