Seanad debates
Thursday, 8 May 2003
National Standards for Foster Care: Statements.
There is a strong push to keep families together but it is difficult to keep two, three or possibly five children together. It is a huge burden on a foster family to have to take that number of children in. In my health board area less than one third of families are placed together. Perhaps we could examine this problem as it is very important to try to keep families together. The Minister of State will be well aware of the problems involved in getting families to take difficult children. I am aware of the good work which has been done in this area and ask the Minister of State to keep it up. Perhaps long-term as opposed to short-term stays for children could be examined.
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