Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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216. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children currently in foster care; the extent to which the level of care is satisfactory and in accordance with regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6352/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Tusla’s latest Service Performance and Activity Report for October 2022 informs that 3,691 children were in general foster care (63.5% of children in care) and 1,473 children were in relative foster care (25.4% of children in care) at that time. Overall, this totals 5,164 children in foster care as of October 2022 (88.9% of children in care), the most recent information available.

Both Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in foster care. This is achieved through the application of Regulations and Standards that govern the placement of children and young people within a foster care setting.

The placement of children in foster care is governed by the National Standards for Foster Care 2003, and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations 1995.

HIQA carries out announced and unannounced inspections of children’s services, including foster care services. HIQA inspections are carried out against the relevant Regulations and Standards.

Tusla in discharging its statutory responsibilities under the Child Care Act, 1991, as amended, must have the best interests of the child as its paramount consideration. It actively monitors every placement of every child in care, including foster care, to ensure its appropriateness to the needs of that child, and any concerns or breaches of standards or regulations are addressed in this context.