Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children, Kathleen Funchion TD, has slammed the government over its inability to adequately address the alarming numbers of vulnerable children who cannot access special care beds.

She said all vulnerable children must have access to safe care arrangements when they need them.

Teachta Funchion said:

“In January I called out this government’s record in relation to the overreliance on unregulated residential care and pointed to the rate in which judges were reluctantly placing very vulnerable children in completely unsustainable and, in some cases, dangerous care arrangements.

“Today’s report, published by the Child Law project, confirms a system that is “unravelling” and that “a tsunami about to reach shore and nothing is being done”.  

“I have repeatedly called for the voices of bodies like the Child Law Project, the Ombudsman for Children and the Children’s Rights Alliance to be heeded – however it’s clear from the findings released today, the government isn’t listening. The government is running out of ideas and the focus required to address a lack of suitable accommodation for children in care.

“This report details some very distressing and complex situations that children find themselves in. The judiciary describing cases they are seeing in their courts as “extraordinary” and “scandalous” really is a national shame and must be addressed.

“Residential care units are completely stretched and aren’t able to manage the volume nor the complexity of issues children are presenting with; I do acknowledge that Tusla are working to try and address some of these systemic issues, and I do welcome the establishment of the review group.

“The government must step up here and acknowledge all elements of the state need to be working together in the interests of providing children with stability and continuity.

“I am calling on the government to heed the calls and significant expertise from the non-government sector; resource the work and recommendations of the review group and begin to build a care sector for children that provides, safety, stability and the chance of a brighter future.”