Temporary order to take three children into care

Three children have been taken into the care of the Child and Family Agency after a social worker found there was little food in their home, no sheets on one child's bed and no toys for them to play with.

At the Dublin District Family Court, Judge Rosemary Horgan was told two of the children had missed 12 weeks of school since September and the baby had developmental delays and was in his buggy every time social workers called.

The infant had missed vaccinations, had no cot and slept in a double bed, the social worker told the court, while the mother slept on a couch downstairs. One of the children had missed 10 appointments for an eye problem, which could lead to long-term damage. Although there was a prescription for glasses, he had none, the court heard.

Unannounced

At an unannounced visit to the home last month, the social worker said there was little evidence of food and rooms were dirty. There was a build-up of rubbish in the back garden and the dog had brought in two rats.

The court heard the mother, who was consenting to an interim care order, was coping with the death of her partner and had “chaotic drug use”, which resulted in the children’s needs being neglected. But she had taken the initiative to address her problems, was on methadone, seeing a counsellor and awaiting a bed in a drugs rehabilitation unit.

“They are lovely children, mannerly and smiling, and they get that from their mother,” the social worker said. “She’s going through a bad patch, but there’s no doubt she’ll turn that around.”

The mother told Judge Horgan she hoped to move out of her current area once finished rehabilitation. “I want to start a new life,” she said.

The judge said there had been “a lot of good parenting as well as a bump in the road”. The mother had identified her problems and put the welfare of her children first by agreeing to the care order. She made an order until September.

Rejected plan

In a separate case, Judge Horgan rejected an aftercare plan for a girl who is soon to turn 18 after her court-appointed guardian said she was in danger of becoming homeless.

The court heard the agency intended to move the teenager from a residential unit to a private apartment with 25 hours of support services a week.

The social work team leader gave evidence of difficulties the agency has finding private apartments. He said they top up rent above the social welfare rate, but even if they are prepared to pay €1,000 a month for a one-bedroom unit, they still have difficulty. He said the landlord of the teenager’s apartment said if there was any anti-social behaviour, she would have to leave within seven days.

The teenager’s guardian said, given her issue with drugs, which she denies, there was a possibility the teenager could be asked to leave the apartment.

“I always find it hard to understand how we support the kids who are least vulnerable, but drop the kids who are most vulnerable,” she said.

Judge Horgan said she wanted to see a “robust plan” for the teenager before adjourning the case for two weeks.