TheJournal.ie uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Click here to find out more »
Dublin: 12 °C Monday 20 May, 2013

Ireland will do whatever “humanly possible” to stop children dying in care – Kenny

Enda Kenny assures the Dáil that the State will do whatever it must to ensure that no more children die in its care.

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has told the Dáil that Ireland will do whatever it can, “in so far as is humanly possible,” to prevent any further children dying in the care of the State.

Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, Kenny rejected accusations that the State “does not have the care of children… as a priority”.

Kenny was responding to questions from Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, who said it was not clear “why the State cannot guarantee the security and the safety of children in its care”.

“You are not at all forthcoming in reassuring not just this house, but families and children across the State, that the State takes its responsibilities in the care of children seriously.

“If the government is not working to an agenda where every child is safe and secure… I wonder what the new Department [of Children and Youth Affairs] is all about,” she said.

Kenny said he completely rejected the notion that his government “does not have the care of children, and the safety of children, and the comfort of children, as a priority.”

The Dáil exchanges came after it emerged that eight children had died in state care since March of this year.

Read more: Twenty-two young people died while known to child protection services>

Read next:

Comments (7 Comments)

  • … provided the Troika allow us recruit the necessary psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, therapists, etc.

    Reply
    • Indeed – social services themselves admit that they can only take on the severest of cases as it is…. It’s hypocritical of Enda Kenny to say that the state has the welfare of children, or anyone else in this state, as a priority. The ONLY priority that FG/Lab have is paying off bank bonds

      Reply
  • Why couldn’t the government bring on the children’s referendum instead of forcing through two half baked populous referenda?

    Reply
    • Exactly, these 2 referendums are nothing more than populist and 2 easy referendums for the government to pass.
      With a justice minister who is one of the leading authorities on family law, and a minister for children in its own right it’s a disgrace that the children’s referendums is still not ready.

      Reply
  • some how nobody believes a word that comes out of your mouth these days……

    Reply
  • actually caring for them would be a start.

    Reply
  • The Government make me laugh when it comes to caring for vulnerable children. They want kids out of private centres and into mainstream care and not a shit do they give about the quality of care these young people receive. It’s all about the bottom dollar. I would love to see these folks work with these damaged children – they would certainly earn their bucks! If they cared they would provide the services these children need. Get rid of the HSE fat cat pen pushers and give the money to provide the services these kids need. OK, off my soapbox!

    Reply

Add New Comment