Foster carers are urgently needed for 56 children in the Cork area, the Southern Health Board has said.
The appeal comes just two weeks after the national co-ordinator of the Irish Foster Care Association branded fostering services "in a state of crisis".
The health board's childcare manager, Ms Christine Tanner, said 540 children were in the care of 363 foster providers in Cork city and county, but many more places were needed.
Outside the ERHA region, the Southern Health Board has the highest number of children awaiting placement. "These children range from newborn babies to teenagers of 17 years," Ms Tanner said. "Some might need foster care only on weekend or holidays; others might need either long-term or emergency short-term care."
The health board is asking people who think they may make suitable foster carers to contact them on 021 492 3025 in Cork city; 022 21484, north Cork; 022 40447, west Cork.
"We need to find people who want to get involved and can actually offer a caring and safe home to a child or young person and can make this type of commitment," Ms Tanner said.
