Seanad debates

Thursday, 5 November 2009

11:00 am

Photo of Mary WhiteMary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the publication of the Health Information and Quality Authority's national children in care inspection report 2008. As spokesperson on children for this side of the House, I have raised the issue of children in care many times. Currently, there are 5,500 children in the care of the State of whom some 4,900 are in foster care. In a survey done in the Dublin south-west region the HIQA report indicated that two thirds of children in care have foster parents, both relatives and non-relatives, who have not been vetted with regard to acceptability of their qualifications and suitability for the job.

Our country has been traumatised already by the Ryan report. Some 30,000 people have been left physically and emotionally devastated as a result of cruelty while they were in the care of the State. In our attitude to this one would think Ireland was Haiti, a country I visited earlier this year. The foster carers of 4,900 children, whether relatives or non-relatives, are not being vetted or deemed appropriate. They get paid for the job they do. I do not cast aspersions on those who kindly foster children but it is wrong not to vet them for suitability. Senator Walsh raised the issue of child abuse and paedophilia. I believe we have not yet scratched the surface of that. I call for us to come back to this matter urgently and ensure the HSE carries out the regulations it is supposed to but does not.

Comments

Catherine Mills
Posted on 14 Nov 2009 2:34 pm (Report this comment)

Some 30,000 people have been left physically and emotionally devastated as a result of cruelty while they were in the care of the State.

Only the tip of the iceberg- wait till the real truth comes to light.

I have witnessed social workers assess carers for fostering and the ones who pass are the ones who agree with everything the social workers say- whether it is right or wrong.

People showing real love are deemed inappropriate- and the ones who behave like the ones Hitler and SS trained in the Lebensraum are deemed perfect- yep- no love to be shown to the disposable children. I witness it every day.

Just thought you ought to be aware of this truth, as it breaks my heart seeing real human children suffer from lack of love- because SS social workers do not know what it is- most cannot feel- which is a major problem.

Most HSE agents want to control and bully people and children.

I would like to know why children are disappearing from care and not being brought to court to show parents they are still alive?

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