Death rate of children in care criticised

IT WAS shocking that one child known to the Health Service Executive and public services died monthly from a drug overdose, suicide or homicide, United Left Alliance TD Richard Boyd Barrett told the Dáil. “It is a continuation of the State’s failure to look after our children.”

Barnardos, he said, had indicated this week that 40,000 more children were now living in consistent poverty, bringing the total figure to 90,000.

Mr Boyd Barrett was speaking during a debate on the review of serious incidents including deaths of children in care.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald confirmed the children’s referendum would be held next year.

She said there would likely be more than 25,000 referrals to social work child-protection teams across the State this year.

As of last August, there were 6,215 children in the State’s care.

“This figure has increased steadily over the past number of years, up by 900 in just over three years,’’ she added.

Ms Fitzgerald said she would soon receive the report of the independent review group on child deaths, representing a retrospective examination of the cases of children and young people who died in the decade January 2000 to April 2010.

She was sure, she said, there would be many lessons to be learned from that report also.

There were good news stories, with nearly 99 per cent of all children in residential care now having an allocated social worker, and 96 per cent a written care plan.

Fianna Fáil spokesman on children Charlie McConalogue said that past mistakes should not be repeated, given the State’s poor record in monitoring child deaths and serious incidents over the years.

One of the lessons from the presidential election and the two referendums was the need to ensure that full consultation with the public took place on the children’s referendum.

Sinn Féin spokesman on children Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called for accelerated Government action. “The national vetting bureau Bill has not yet been published,” he said.

“We are still waiting for the establishment of the long-promised child welfare and protection agency.”