According to The Journal, a new report from the Child Law Project (CLP) reveals significant failures in Ireland’s state care system due to a lack of government policy, appropriate care placements, and inter-agency cooperation.
The report, based on observations of child protection hearings across multiple courts from mid-2021 to mid-2024, describes “a national crisis unfolding” with an acute shortage of appropriate care placements threatening to collapse the care system. For the first time, the CLP has documented cases of young children without available foster care, with some as young as four being placed in residential care.
Special rapporteur on child protection, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, described the situation as “a care system creaking at the seams.” The report highlights particular concerns about special care placements, with delays in both admission and discharge due to lack of appropriate facilities.
The study found that over 70% of child protection cases were incorrectly heard alongside family, licensing, and criminal matters, despite legal requirements for separate hearings. Additionally, nearly a third of parents in child care cases had a disability, with two-thirds of those experiencing mental health problems.
The CLP has called for urgent action, including a short-term plan to address the placement crisis and investment in a national strategy on alternative care. The organization’s funding ceased on October 31, with the Department of Children planning to begin a competitive procurement process for future court reporting.
The full report is here.