Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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10. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs how he proposes to address the crisis in the number of persons offering themselves for foster parenting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43974/14]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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How does the Minister propose to address the crisis in the number of people offering themselves for foster parenting, particularly in the north Dublin city area?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Fostering is one of the main components of care for children in care, and it is a very successful one. When we compare ourselves internationally, we can see that we have one of the highest rates of family-based care and that other countries are striving towards what we have already achieved. The idea of many children being in institutions is now really a thing of the past, and rightly so. Overall, the foster care role is well funded and the take-up of the fostering service provided through the Child and Family Agency is high. Of children in care, 93% are being cared for in a foster care setting by around 4,250 foster carers.

While I do not consider that there is a crisis, in light of the success we are having in delivering foster care, I note that it can sometimes be a challenge to place children within their local communities, which we want to do. The Deputy has mentioned a particular area. That said, there is an ongoing need to recruit, as foster carers may come off the register for various reasons, including age, health or simply the demands of their own family lives. A fostering recruitment campaign for Dublin north city was launched by the Minister of State with responsibility for equality, new communities and culture only last week. I understand it went very well and that the public response has been positive.

On foot of the robust process of training and assessment that potential foster carers must complete, we only bring onto the foster care panel those who are suitable and dedicated carers. Children and adolescents in care do not form a uniform group. Some can have moderate or severe disabilities and, perhaps, anger and trust issues. They may have different language, cultural and dietary needs. They may be in the company of siblings. As the Deputy can imagine, we require a complex mix of skills, capabilities and experience on the foster carer panel in order to deliver the best service possible. The agency and organisations such as the Irish Foster Care Association keep fostering in the public eye with general and targeted campaigns. I had the pleasure of opening the association's conference at the weekend.

While I do not agree that there is a crisis, we can never take for granted that there are enough foster carers available to support children and their families at a very vulnerable time in their lives. We need to continue to recruit suitable and loving foster carers and to publicise the fact that fostering delivers great benefits for children, their families and their communities. Such is the bond that grows between foster parents and their children that a huge number of children continue to be supported emotionally and financially by their foster parents after the age of 18.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge that the care provided through fostering is at a high level, which is only right and proper. However, one third of the children put forward for fostering in the north Dublin city area to date in 2014 have had to be housed outside their area. That means they were removed from their own communities, taken out of the schools they were attending and taken away from friends. That is not right or proper. While the Minister might not have the details about the specific area now, I would welcome it if he would come back to me with information on how we can attract extra foster parents in the north Dublin city area.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to do that.