Urgent Concerns for Foster Care Children in Kilkenny Area

BREAKING: A recent HIQA inspection has raised serious concerns regarding the welfare of children in foster care across Kilkenny, Carlow, and South Tipperary. The report, released today, highlights alarming deficiencies in safeguarding practices, staffing levels, and the management of allegations against foster carers.

Inspectors revealed that in the past year alone, there were 94 reported child protection and welfare concerns involving children in foster care, of which nine cases remain unresolved. Furthermore, 26 allegations were made against foster carers, but three of these cases are still open without timely assessments to determine the validity of the allegations.

The inspection, conducted in July 2025, found that notifications of suspected abuse were not consistently reported to An Garda Síochána, even in instances where the criteria for abuse were met. “Timely actions were not taken to progress the assessment of an allegation of abuse,” inspectors stated, adding that two notifications of suspected child abuse were not reported as required.

Of particular concern is the lack of awareness among children regarding the complaints process. Four out of seven children interviewed expressed that they were unaware of how to report issues, raising alarm about the transparency and effectiveness of the current system.

Amid these serious findings, the staffing crisis within the service is compounding the issues. Staff reported that roles are increasingly blurred, with social care workers taking on responsibilities typically reserved for social workers. “The situation is chaotic,” one foster carer stated, underscoring the urgency of the matter.

In response to the report, Tusla has committed to addressing these challenges. The agency confirmed that of the five standards assessed by HIQA, two were substantially compliant, while three were non-compliant. Tusla has submitted an action plan aimed at improvement, which has been accepted by HIQA.

Joanne Cullen, Interim Regional Chief Officer for Tusla in the affected areas, acknowledged the difficulties faced in delivering foster care services. “We will continue to focus on the delivery of consistent and high-quality services,” she stated. As part of the improvements, all children in care now have an allocated worker, and the agency is moving towards a multi-disciplinary model to enhance care delivery.

Despite these challenges, the report did highlight some positive feedback from children in care. Most reported being happy in their foster homes and felt well cared for by their foster carers. “The children said they were consulted about matters important to them,” Tusla noted, indicating that efforts are being made to ensure their voices are heard.

As this situation continues to develop, authorities emphasize the need for immediate improvements in safeguarding practices to protect vulnerable children in foster care. The community is urged to stay informed on this critical issue as efforts to rectify these shortcomings unfold.

For ongoing updates on this developing story, stay tuned.