Fostering a child calls for tremendous commitment and an open heart. It is not something to be engaged in lightly because of the stresses that may arise for the child and the fostering family. Unlike adoption, the child is in need of care and protection and will always remain part of his or her original family. A weekly state allowance is paid. Following garda vetting, social workers provide support and advice for foster children and monitor families on behalf of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. A number of commercial agencies are also involved. As Fiona Gartland reported in The Irish Times last week, the cost of placing children through these private companies, which also report to Tusla, has raised questions concerning value for money, State involvement and the outsourcing of responsibility.
Official Ireland has always been reluctant to fund sufficient staff to provide the necessary level of care and oversight for children in foster care. Every so often, evidence emerges that administrative neglect or inadequate monitoring has facilitated the physical and sexual abuse of children. In spite of that – and the appointment of Tusla to replace the Health Service Executive – financial resources remain a difficulty. It costs three times as much to place a child through these private companies as through Tusla. Payments to all families are exactly the same, but the companies charge for additional services.
It is argued that the €18 million paid to these companies would be better spent in building up State services by employing additional social workers to liaise with children and their families. That may be so. But it would take time and changes to work practices. Private companies have enjoyed limited success to date because of the services they offer in actively recruiting and training foster families, reducing waiting times and providing on-going family support by way of a 24/7 service. An out-of-hours or weekend help-line is not available to Tusla-monitored families. The employment of additional social workers will not, of itself, eradicate these weaknesses. Extensive reform is required. Foster parents deserve better.