A High Court judge has said "nothing is being done" about the crisis in our care system.
The Child Law Project's latest report highlights the "despair" within the justice system at the lack of special care beds for the most vulnerable children in society.
In one case, a boy in "the exceptional risk category" was found with shop vouchers and expensive clothing, raising concerns he was being exploited - however, no action had been taken by Tusla to get him a bed.
“The lack of suitable care placements is having a domino effect that risks collapsing the care system,” Child Law Project CEO Dr Maria Corbett said.
“The knock-on effects of a lack of appropriate placements are compounding existing difficulties for children and staff and so we fear the system has begun to unravel.”
Children's Rights Alliance CEO Tanya Ward said more funding is needed for these services to intervene and look after children who are at risk.
“Child protection and welfare services themselves, they do need an increase in funding and support to help them work with these children,” she said.
“It is a small group of children with very complex needs - there’s 70 to 80 - but if they don’t get these kind of supports, I’ll be deeply concerned.
“These supports are lifesaving and I think Budget 2025 really has to prioritise.”
The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon has today expressed his despair at the last volume of case reports published by the Child Law Project.
Read our statement in full, here:https://t.co/kff5TltFD9
— Ombudsman for Children (@OCO_ireland) July 8, 2024
Following publication of the report, Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon said the report’s conclusion came as no surprise.
“The last volume of case reports published by the Child Law Project once again demonstrates the desperate situation facing so many of these vulnerable children in Ireland today,” he said.
“It is unheard of that judges now have to continuously and repeatedly hold Tusla to account for their failings in their statutory duty to children. It is not only judges that are worried.
“I have heard from social workers, social care workers and guardians… about their real fear for the welfare of these children.”
A report was based on the conclusions of a Child Law Project reporters who attended 70 court cases - 67 in the District Court, one each from the Supreme Court, Circuit Court and High Court - in the first six months of 2024.
Main image: The Four Courts. Image by: Alamy.com
