Madam, – The article “The short life of Daniel McAnaspie” (Weekend Review, May 22nd) presents an ill-informed and overly simplistic view of childcare services in Ireland. It set out to throw some light on a complex and multidimensional services for children in the care of the State – what it achieves is to stigmatise the vast majority of the 5,600 children who are successfully living in local communities across the country and are not “living chaotic lives” as suggested by the author.
The article suggests that services for children in care are “hidden”, that there is an urgent need for transparency and questions the in-camera rule for child care cases in the courts. The fact is that over 92 per cent of children in care live with foster families. This means they are going to school, participating in local activities and living normal lives in communities across the country.
There is nothing hidden or opaque about this service. It is a highly successful approach to the care of children who for various reasons cannot live at home. This family-based approach minimises the stigma and alienation that was a feature of care services in the past. Services for children in care are family- and community-based because research evidence shows this is the most successful approach and is advocated by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Services for children in care are arguably the most regulated of all services in Ireland. These services are reviewed, monitored and inspected by Hiqa, the independent statutory body. Approximately half of all children in care are subject to court order and are therefore under the direction of the court and in many situations the court appoints a guardian ad litem to represent the child’s best interests in court. In addition, the HSE supports advocacy organisations for foster carers (Irish Foster Care Association) and children in care (Irish Association for Young People in Care) to further ensure there is independent support for the development of the rights of children in care and their carers.
Some children who come into care have suffered serious emotional deprivation, neglect and abuse and are, as a consequence, traumatised, distressed, often distracted and sometimes challenging. These children need the support and understanding of their community if they are to learn to live with the pain of their early lives. In exceptional circumstances the HSE will apply for a High Court order for the temporary detention of a child. Nine such orders have been granted this year. However the deprivation of liberty is an extraordinary measure which can only be used in exceptional circumstances.
Children in care of the State need the acceptance, support and understanding of the whole community if they are to progress and succeed in life. Services for these children successfully meet their needs in the vast majority of cases. Those children who are exceptionally troubled need exceptional support. We all have a part to play. – Yours, etc,