Over 6-thousand children are in the care of the State and in excess of 90 per-cent of those placed in foster care.
The latest figures released by The Irish Foster Care Association come as the association launches its Fostering Awareness Week.
This year the theme is 'Fostering Partnership' - which aims to highlight the importance of effective partnership in ensuring quality care, protection and opportunities for the development of children who have faced difficulties in their early years.
The Association's Breda Donovan says foster care is about finding the right fit for each child:
