Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join in welcoming the group from Gorey who are here. I raise the issue of a report by HIQA into foster care services in Waterford and Wexford.As we know, HIQA will carry out independent investigations on health services around the country. This has been reported on by Brendan Keane and the People Group newspapers in Wexford this morning. While the report has found that there are excellent foster families in Waterford and Wexford, one third of those families do not have access to social workers. One third of the children who are in foster care do not have access to a social worker. This is also a concern that has been raised with me by a number of foster parents because they are obviously doing the best that they can for the children who are in their care. However, if difficulties arise, because some of these children are particularly vulnerable, they do need the support of a social worker.

The fact that there is now not just the anecdotal evidence from foster carers, but a report by HIQA to state that this is the case, is a matter of concern. We need an urgent debate. I ask that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O’Gorman, liaise with Tusla on this issue and that he come before the House to assure us that if any child in foster care, not just in Waterford or Wexford, but right across the country, should need to have access to a social worker, this will be guaranteed. That is the very least we can guarantee for the most vulnerable children within our communities. It is also important to those foster parents that they know such support is available should they require it.