Major failings in child protection in Donegal have been identified by a Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) report into foster care services operated by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The report identifies major non-compliance with three of the eight standards against which performance was measured – safeguarding and child protection, assessment and approval of relative foster carers and reviews of foster carers. The Donegal foster-care service had a total of 132 foster care households, with 111 general foster care households and 21 foster care households with relatives. Foster care reviewIt also found 82 per cent of foster carers in Donegal did not have a foster care review completed to show their capacity to provide good quality care to children. ISPCC Director of Policy Cliodhna O’Neill said foster care is the backbone of the care system in Ireland with over 6,100 children are in foster care.

Source: The Irish Times September 04, 2018 21:17 UTC