State is failing vulnerable children: We have to address crisis in child care

The Taoiseach’s recent warning about the dangers of an unsustainable expansion of public spending did not stop him promising an increase this year in the overseas developmen

The Taoiseach’s recent warning about the dangers of an unsustainable expansion of public spending did not stop him promising an increase this year in the overseas development aid budget. But if there is a limit to public spending, which there clearly must be, and if allocating funds requires the setting of priorities, which they do, he should first read — and read them very carefully — the latest deeply alarming reports published today by the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP) before he and his cabinet authorises a bigger cheque for overseas aid.

The 16 reports reveal, not for the first time, the views of judges who handle cases concerning alleged or possible child sex abuse, and highlights exasperation at shortfalls in the state care amenities for vulnerable children. In one contribution, a judge accepts that there has been sufficient investment in providing secure care — normally when allegations are first made and the police and judicial wheels are set in motion — but goes on to bemoan the absence of planning for placements at later stages, and the anxiety that creates for vulnerable youngsters.