Government must face reality of ongoing failings within the State care system – Claire Kerrane TD
15 April 2025
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Children, Claire Kerrane TD, has said that any suggestion by Ministers or Government of a radical change in the treatment of vulnerable children in State care could not be further from the truth.
Speaking this afternoon, Teachta Kerrane said:
“Any suggestion by Ministers or Government that the landscape around the care of vulnerable children has radically changed could not be further from the truth.
“Over and over again those at the coalface are not listened to. Just as those who raised concerns about Grace were not listened to.
“Over and over again the Children’s Residential and Aftercare Voluntary Association (CRAVA) have pointed to an increase in unregistered and uninspected for-profit providers in the care system, due to State’s failure to invest in and to plan for the future of care.
“How many times have CRAVA said that the lives, safety and mental health of the most vulnerable children in the State are at severe risk, and how many times have they called for an independent review of Ireland’s care system?
“The Child Law Project told us last year that the care system in Ireland is at breaking point. They’ve described judges in courts being in despair at the system of care for children. The same law project was shelved for months with no guarantee of funding to be made available.
“In March of this year, HIQA reported that five foster care services operated by Tusla were non-compliant. This came after a warning by HIQA last year that following inspections, significant improvements were needed in North Dublin services to ensure children are protected from abuse.
“In March, a judge described as appalling and shocking the treatment of children in care by Tusla, with 250 children left without a Social Worker.
“Ministers can use all of the words under the sun to describe the disgusting treatment of Grace and how wrong it was. They are right. But the actual question is what are THEY going to do about it?
“The care system and the protection of children is something we can and should all work on together. It goes way beyond politics, but Government must be willing to act on the very many issues that mean our most vulnerable children are not being looked after in the way that they should be.
“Nobody with a shred of honesty can say that, right across the board, they are.
“Government must face that reality and if the Grace report doesn’t lay that bare, nothing will.
“For the many wonderful and loving foster carers out there, at a time when we need more foster carers, today is a difficult day for you all too. We need more of you. A foster carer can be the person that changes a child’s life.”
