Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Another issue that is causing a particular problem, as I understand, is where social workers take maternity leave. The foster care placement initiative becomes almost the secondary issue because the primary concern is for children who are already vulnerable and where there is already a case load for the existing social workers. People who are brought in on contract, for example, do not have the same experience and cannot offer the same continuity of care as the social worker who has worked consistently with a particular child or family. That is another issue that must be addressed and is separate from the others I raised.

I would welcome anything the Minister can do to improve the situation whereby only six out of 100 people who make an initial telephone inquiry go on to become foster carers. The priority is to ensure children are not left queuing for a placement and that applicants are vetted in a timely but thorough way.

See this speech in context