Children in care - Have we lost compassion?

YESTERDAY’S report that children in care are subject to crisis management rather than long-term planning is yet another wearying example of the reality of life in Ireland.

Have we learnt nothing from all of the scandals of recent times, when the most vulnerable of our children were let down by organisations charged with their care and a state that endorsed that guardianship?

The Social Services Inspectorate report reveals that children are being denied the chance to live with foster families despite state policy that stresses the importance of family settings over residential units.

One in four of the youngest children — 12 and under — in residential care should not have been there but social workers could find no alternative for them.

There are 5,258 children aged 18 and under in care, almost 4,700 of whom are with foster families.

This is Ireland in 2007, we never had more money and this nonsense continues. Have we lost all sense of compassion and outrage?