Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Browne for sharing his time with Senator Terry and me. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power and previously, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan and their officials, to the House. It is important that we now have a Minister of State, albeit at the high chair, around the Cabinet table, who is fully responsible for the area of child welfare which involves up to five different Departments.

I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power to investigate an issue of concern to me. Orphans being cared for by family members or friends are in receipt of an orphan's benefit and a medical card. However, because it is a means tested benefit, I know of an orphan who has not been granted the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. I ask the Minister of State to direct all health boards to grant a clothing and footwear allowance as of right to the families caring for orphans. If a medical card is granted as of right, a clothing and footwear allowance should be also granted. The number of orphans is quite small. They are a special group of people and the State should do everything in its power to ensure their childhood is made as easy as possible.

I wish to speak about the issue of foster families and the rights both of the child in care and of the natural parents. A demonstration took place recently outside Leinster House by a group of parents who believe their voice has been ignored. They are parents whose children have been taken from them and put into care. The Minister of State will be aware that close to 600 children are in care. I commend the foster families who do marvellous work. However the Child Care Act 1991 is clear that it is in the child's best interests that a child be brought up by its natural parents. Some parents are concerned that their voices are being ignored and that there are insufficient support services for families. Many families have been unable to cope with their housing and financial problems. Much more support is required for the parents of these children who dearly wish to take their children back home to live in a normal and natural environment as set out in the legislation and for which we are all responsible.

I ask the Minister of State to deal in his reply with the issue of assessment. It is right and proper that assessment should take place on an ongoing basis, at the very least every six months, to ensure the parent or parents of the child have got back on their feet and are able to care for the child. However, many assessments are taking place only on an annual basis. This is wrong and it is in breach of the UN charter. Children have a right to grow up in their natural environment and to be brought up by their mothers and fathers. It must be ensured that assessment occurs on a regular basis.

Another issue raised during the recent demonstration was the need for consistency among social workers and judges. It is utterly wrong to have different judges in the Family Court dealing with the same case every time it appears. It is equally wrong for a case to be dealt with by different teams of social workers. The voice of the parent whose child is in care needs to be recognised. Many are concerned at the lack of consistency among social workers and in the Family Court when it comes to ensuring the voice of the natural parent is heard. It is a difficult situation and there is no doubt the courts is the right place to determine whether a child should be in care. I ask the State to be aware that international commitments on assessment and consistency should be upheld and to ensure the voice of the natural parents is heard in the court setting and in the assessment setting. These parents do not believe this is happening.