Dublin foster care ‘in crisis’

Health Service Executive bosses are reeling from the latest damning investigation which said foster care in parts of Dublin was in a state of crisis.

Politicians called for Health Minister Mary Harney to step in and take control of the agency to ensure it puts child protection top of the agenda.

Inspectors reported a catalogue of failures among social work teams in two areas of the capital – Dublin North West and North Central – with more than 200 youngsters placed with relatives who had not been vetted.