Travellers are being recruited and trained as foster parents for the first time by the Western Health Board. The recruitment campaign began with the setting up of a new regional fostering service in Tuam, Co Galway, recently.
Project leader Ms Anne Tighe said when Traveller children came into health board care they had been fostered by families from the settled community up to now, unless relatives of the children could be found to care for them.
However, research and experience showed it was better for a Traveller child to be fostered by a family from its own community to preserve normality and culture, she said.
Ms Tighe said a small percentage of children from the Traveller community required fostering, as did a percentage of children from the settled community.
The reasons they needed care were similar for both communities, and included parents' inability to cope, dependence on alcohol and family illness, she said.
The health board has a constant need for foster parents from the settled community also.
Staff hope to recruit 20 new foster families this month alone to look after babies, toddlers and schoolchildren on a short0-term and respite basis.
There are 270 children and young people in foster care in the region, which covers counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. They are cared for by 175 foster families, some of whom are relatives.
Ms Tighe said the board would also be looking for more specialist foster carers next year. They would be trained and supported to look after teenagers and children with more challenging behaviour.
Anyone interested in fostering can contact the new regional service at (093) 24550.