Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

33. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there are sufficient numbers of adults presenting to provide fostering for children in need of foster parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31165/17]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My question relates to the numbers of adults presenting to provide foster care for children in need of foster parents, whether there is a shortfall, and how the matter could be addressed.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

For foster care to work, we must at all times have panels of carers. This reason alone means that recruitment is constant and ongoing. I appeal to anyone with an interest in caring for children to visit the Tusla website, www.tusla.ie. The foster care section is well laid out. It provides answers for many questions, including the nature of foster care, the diverse group of people who can become carers, how to apply, as well as videos of children, parents and a social worker. I am sure Deputies on all sides of the House will join me in paying tribute to those who do come forward. The reason recruitment is constant is we need as diverse a group of carers as possible because children themselves are a diverse group. We also need both long-term and short-term carers.

The criteria for assessing suitability to become a carer are based on a person's willingness and ability to care appropriately for a vulnerable child. An assessment is carried out, irrespective of nationality, race, religion, sexual identity, marital status, disability status or whether someone is already a parent. Latest figures show there are 4,816 foster carers providing care for 5,834 children.

Most Tusla teams have sufficient numbers, but achieving the diversity I outlined can be challenging. It is for that reason that recruitment is constant.

I am also happy that the outcomes for children in foster care here are much praised by professional colleagues abroad, especially in terms of school completion, stability, family centred care and progress in third level education.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have had some appalling abuse scandals within the foster care system, but I, too, acknowledge the hundreds of kind and caring people who present as foster parents for children who present with many challenges and difficulties in their lives. On the figures given by the Minister, it is good to know that generally the numbers are sufficient. However, I raise the question because of concerns I have heard about finding foster parents in some situations. The social workers involved were confident they would be able to find foster parents, but they were having difficulties in some instances.

I ask about the provision of adequate support and even training for people who are coming forward as foster parents. There could be a concern that we have a system of guardians in court for children, but what happens after that? That is where foster parents have additional difficulties and challenges with some of the children they are fostering. To follow on from the previous question about social workers, is there enough support and training available for them?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Deputy's comments. I am aware that concerns have been raised, even in some of HIQA's reports which identified that things were not as good as they could be. Regarding foster care committees in particular, HIQA identified some concerns and ways in which improvements could be made. My Department is working with Tusla to ensure it is developing an alternative care strategy to guide improvements.

My Department is fully involved with Tusla on oversight with regard to required improvements and the Irish Association of Social Workers has produced a report outlining necessary improvements in foster care services. My officials have engaged with the Irish Association of Social Workers to hear its views and we are also in regular contact with the Irish Foster Care Association in order to ensure we can move forward in terms of those improvements.

I can address the other question raised by the Deputy better when dealing with the next parliamentary question.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can assure the Deputy that Tusla has put in place a number of supports in terms of training, as well as providing link workers to work with many of the families. In answering some of the other questions, I have tried to identify ways in which members of Tusla are supported themselves in the work they do. While I am not saying there is no room for more of that, and I have identified the ways in which my Department is working with Tusla to find room for improvement, there are supports in place for foster carers.