Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The concern is that we have over-worked social workers and under-supported foster parents, and we must ensure we do not have an overbalance of one or the other. If somebody presents to be a foster parent, it is necessary that there is training for them, particularly for those who are not parents and have not had that experience, although there are parents who could also do with extra training. In addition to training, however, they also need support. We know that, in some cases, they are being presented with very challenging young children, particularly teenagers, and looking for foster parents for teenagers can be particularly difficult. Foster parents need extra support and this is connected to the point on whether social workers also have the support they need to carry out that work. There are so many cases coming to social workers, whose work is already very difficult. It is a question of ensuring the supports are there.

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