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OVER 6,500 CHILDREN were in State care at the end of May, a new report from the Child and Family agency Tusla shows.
6,517 children were in some form of state care, the report says.
The vast majority, around 93%, were in foster care, while 6% were in residential care and the final 1% were in other care placements.
16 children were in residential special care in units in Dublin, Limerick and Cork, three were in a high support unit.
Of those in foster care, 64% (4,182) were in a foster care general placement. This equates to a rise of 28 children in this placement type compared to April 2014; but equals the December 2013 percentage figure of 64%.
256 (6%) of all children in foster care general (4,182) were in a private placement at the end of May 2014. This was an increase of 35 over the same period last year from 221.
The report adds that while most children had care plans and were well looked after, staffing levels impacted care.
“Vacancies and available staffing in some areas continue to adversely affect performance. This is particularly notable in Cavan/Monaghan and Dublin South West/Kildare West Wicklow where difficulties will remain without an increase in staffing levels.”
Overall, the report says that 89 social work posts were outstanding at the end of May.
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Only for foster parents and families, we’d have a lot of dead kids on our hands. They really are incredible, selfless people.
My sister is minted minding four dysfunctional foster children, she doesn’t know what to do with all the extra lolly.
And yet so many in the country are apposed to loving same sex parents adoption children. Shur you can’t have gay cupples bring up children they say. They think they are better of with families that can’t take care of them and in a lot of cases abuse them then the big bad gays who can give the kids a loving and stable home.
@James Joseph Superior Power
So you think that most heterosexuals are not fit to be parents?
How did you come to that conclusion? where did I say that?
@James Joseph Superior Power
I suspect that you were implying it. Most heterosexual parents are good.
Have you even read the article Ciaran. I am NOT implying that heterosexuals are not fit to be parents. The point I am making is that some (not all) of the parents spoken about in the article do not have the capabilities required to look after children. Yet so many people would prefer to see these children left in such environments rather than allowing loving same sex parents to adopt them. How dose making a point that same sex couple can be good parents imply that heterosexual couples are not?
I am sure the Pro Life people will mind them.
we fostered my husbands youngest brother for 8 months last year. he has dyspraxia and at the time my second daughter was being assessed for the same. however we, particularly me, found it incredibly hard going. 2 children with extra needs plus 2 extra was a massive strain on my mental health. we stewed over it for 5 months and decided it eould be best for all involved that he lived with people who were trained and ready to take him on. best decision we made. he is totally thriving! Unfortunately for us we live nextdoor to the parents and has proved to be a complete f*ck up of a situation that we can’t seem to get out of. foster parents are amazing people! im just not made for it.
So who did the child end up with ?
hes with a fantastic family 30 mins awsy!
That’s what happens when you create a dysfunctional society and it’s going to get much worse, not better, as society becomes more dysfunctional.
@Steptoe. There’s no indication of a dysfunctional society from the article. In order to show dysfunctionality, you would need to show an upward trend over a number of years. In addition you’d need to be aware of the reasons why children are in care. Unaccompanied minors who have come into the country, children who are temporarily in care due to parental illness. The figures seem high, but I’ve no idea how they compare internationally. What we can say is that we seem to have many selfless foster parents out there.
A lot of people “selflessly” take on fostering their sister’s children when she dies etc but then wait until the child is almost eighteen before they adopt them. Can anyone in the know explain this?
89 social work positions outstanding?! This Infuriates me! I had 3 friends who just enquired about these positions (before they sent in a CV) and we’re told all positions were filled! I don’t understand!!! What is the point in these reports unless someone actually gets up off their ass and even tries to fix these problems, first things first, open a national recruitment drive and fill the positions!
Yet it is still so difficult for people to adopt in this country. Surely something more can be done to sever the rights of the parents of children in long-term care.
There shouldn’t be 89 vacancies, because those social work posts weren’t subject to the recruitment embargo.
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