A chara, – Carol Coulter's article regarding the second interim report from the Child Care Law Reporting Project is both informative and thought-provoking ("Family court urgently needed for vulnerable parents and children", October 28th). It is obvious from the report that there is a need for the setting up of family courts throughout the country to ensure consistency and continuity of care and support for some of the most vulnerable children and parents.
Another issue that needs to be addressed is the quality and consistency of care provided by foster families. The vast majority of foster families provide a loving, caring and nurturing environment for children.
Many of these families work closely with the Child and Family Agency to ensure optimum care is provided.
However there is a minority of foster families whose quality of care is not what it should be.
Thankfully such foster families are in the minority, but with agencies crying out for families to foster children, it is incumbent on all to monitor carefully the welfare of children placed in foster care. With so many social workers weighed down with heavy caseloads, it is inevitable that some children will fall through the cracks.
There is an onus on all of us in society to ensure the welfare of such children is not compromised further because there are not enough social workers employed to monitor their progress, development or wellbeing. – Is mise,
SEÁN Ó BRIAIN,
Drogheda, Co Louth.