A report published today by the independent watchdog, HIQA, raises concerns for children in foster care in the Dublin South, West/Wicklow, Kildare region.
The report highlights that for many children in this area outcomes were positive.
However there are still notable concerns identified - in particular, there were a substantial number of children without an allocated social worker.
EPIC, an independent association that works with and for children and young people living in care, said it's concerned the rights of children in care are not being fulfilled:
“On the day that commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Rights of the Child, this report highlights that children’s rights for one of the most vulnerable cohorts of children, children in care, are currently not being fulfilled. Two of the key recommendations from the Ryan Report has been to ensure that every child in care has an allocated social worker and every child has a statutory child in care review. This is currently not happening.111 children in foster care in this particular area did not have an allocated social worker, while 143 children in this area did not have an up-to-date statutory child in care review.
All children in care should have an allocated social worker and a statutory child in care review to facilitate their voices being heard and their rights being met as laid out in the Convention.”
