Ireland’s Childcare System Failing Vulnerable Children – Ombudsman Report
Ireland’s child care system is failing to adequately protect its most vulnerable children, according to a report published today by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO). The report, titled “Let’s get it right!!!,” asserts the current system is not operating in the best interests of all children in state care.
The findings come after a surge in complaints related to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Last year, 19% of all complaints received by the Children’s Ombudsman’s Office concerned Tusla, prompting a comprehensive examination of the care system by the OCO. The review encompassed all aspects of care, including family-based placements, high-support services, and after-care provisions.
Ombudsman for Children, in the report, highlighted an opportunity for “a once in a generational change to the system.” A key concern identified is the increasing reliance on privately funded residential care, with 69% of such placements now provided by private entities, despite Tusla’s stated aim to reduce this dependency to 50% by 2025. The report details instances where young people were placed in unsafe environments or denied essential supports, and others remained in unsuitable placements for extended periods due to a lack of viable alternatives.
The report too focuses on the challenges faced by kinship carers – relatives or close family friends providing care for children unable to live with their parents. These carers often lack the legal security afforded to foster parents, hindering their ability to craft crucial medical and educational decisions. Financial hardship is also a significant issue, as kinship families receive considerably less financial support than foster carers, increasing the risk of poverty for both the carers and the children in their care.
Even as the Programme for Government includes a commitment to address the legal and financial gaps for kinship carers, the OCO is urging for swift action on this front. The report notes a seven-percentage point decrease in the proportion of children in foster care over the past decade, attributed in part to insufficient state financial support. This decline has contributed to a shortage of foster placements, leading to an increase in younger children being placed in residential care, which the OCO deems “totally inappropriate for their needs.”
The OCO expressed concern over high staff turnover in private residential care settings, potentially leading to inadequate oversight and insufficient support for children. The report emphasizes the need to treat children in state care as “a national priority” to ensure the system fulfills its obligation to protect and uphold their rights. The OCO recommends increased investment in early intervention and prevention services, enhanced support for foster carers, and formal recognition of kinship carers.
Specific recommendations outlined in the report include banning unregulated placements, strengthening aftercare supports up to age 26, improving services for children with disabilities and unaccompanied minors, and ensuring children’s voices are meaningfully incorporated into decisions affecting their lives. As of today, Tusla has not issued a formal response to the OCO’s report.