Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the availability of sufficient placements for children deemed to be at risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43270/19]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for this important question especially as last week Tusla undertook a very successful national awareness campaign about foster care.
Once a child has been received into care, the most crucial task for a child protection social worker is to find a placement that matches that child's needs. Ideally this is with foster carers in the communities in which they live.
Social workers recruit foster carers on an ongoing basis, as they retire or leave fostering for family obligations or other reasons. A key reason for the need for ongoing recruitment is that Tusla places over 91% of children in care in foster placements.
Foster carers are needed to care for new born babies, some with serious health problems, for toddlers, individual children and sibling groups who may be upset, traumatised and frightened, and for teenagers who may not think they need, or indeed, deserve to be cared for at all.
Social workers need to recruit carers who can match the needs of children who are received into care in emergencies, sometimes during the night, for short term and respite placements and for long term care through a whole childhood and into adult life.
Foster carers need support and guidance to help them meet the differing needs of children and types of placements provided and I am very pleased to be able to tell the Deputy that Tusla has launched an out of hours phone service, where experienced social workers can provide advice and support.
A very small minority of placements are provided by private companies about 8% and these are in the main where the foster carers need significant support due to the needs of the child placed with them. Tusla approves all foster care applicants recruited by private companies.
Finally Deputy, I am sure you will join me in expressing our thanks to foster carers and professionals involved in providing care to our most vulnerable children.
