Number of children taken into care triples with new regulations

A TRIPLING in the number of children being taken into care through the courts in the past four years is the result of improved standards and regulations, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has said. Care Orders tripled between 2004 and 2007 and Supervision Orders doubled, according to figures from the Courts Service.

The District Court granted 411 Care Orders in 2004 and 1,201 in 2007. Some 273 Supervision Orders were granted in 2004, while 556 were issued in 2007.

A Care Order places a child in the care of the HSE either temporarily or permanently. A Supervision Order authorises the HSE to visit the child periodically to check on the child's welfare and advise on his or her care.

The majority of children are taken into care because they have been neglected by parents or guardians. Other reasons the HSE applies for Care Orders include physical, emotional or sexual abuse, behavioural problems and mental health problems.

Most children taken into care are placed with foster carers or relatives, but a significant number are taken into residential care homes.

A spokesman for the HSE said it has been implementing a range of new standards and regulations relating to childcare, driven by the roll-out of legislation (Child Care acts of 1991 and 2001). He added that a change in population demographics had seen a rise in the overall number of children in the care of the State, either voluntarily or through the courts.

The figure has risen from 5,060 at the end of 2004, to 5,362 by the end of March 2008, he said.

A spokeswoman for children's charity Barnardos said the increase in figures could not be explained by a marked increase in cases coming to their attention.

However, she said the charity's Guardian Ad Litem service, which provides children with a voice in court, had observed an increase in the number of multiple-child families being taken into care. She welcomed the implementation of childcare legislation, but said Barnardos continued to be concerned at the decision by the HSE to suspend plans for a 24-hour social care service.

Plans for the €15 million out-of-hours social work service were put on hold last month, as a result of budgetary constraints. Demands for a proper out-of-hours service have been growing in recent years, following the tragic sudden deaths of children in a number of high-profile incidents.

The HSE has said it will be bringing forward new plans within the next two months which will strengthen the co-operation between the HSE and gardaí, who have the authority to take children into care, day or night.

It suggested that it may be a better use of resources to use the 80 new posts - the total number of staff needed to run a national out-of-hours service - in preventive work in communities rather than on an emergency service.

Minister of State for Health and Children Barry Andrews has also said the Government remained committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk.