Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The number of carers has reduced, obviously, but over ten years it is perhaps not as stark; we lost 368 from the system which would be for many reasons. In relation to bringing new foster carers into the system, is the Minister aware of any of the reasons foster carers may have chosen to stop foster care other than those who are getting older and naturally stop providing foster care? I am interested to know of those who have left by choice, what may have been the reasons for that. For them, it may not have been a choice; they may have been unable to keep going.

On bringing in new foster carers, and perhaps during his engagement with the likes of the IFCA, has the Minister looked at what we can do to encourage and bring more foster carers into the system? There are children who need foster carers.

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