New figures reveal child care applications inconsistent across Ireland

Child care applications are wildly inconsistent across Ireland for the fifth year running, according to new figures published by the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP).

Dr Carol Coulter, CCLRP director, called for further research to establish the reasons for wide variations in the number of applications lodged and granted across Ireland.

The figures, provided to the CCLRP by the Courts Service, show that Longford, Kilkenny, Tullamore, Carlow and Portlaoise saw far fewer applications last year for interim care orders, care orders and supervision orders than other towns of similar size.

There were only 13 applications in Kilkenny, compared with over 1,000 in Letterkenny, though many of these applications were adjourned. Nonetheless, 448 child care applications were granted in Letterkenny, which saw 460 new applications lodged last year.

The total number of applications made across Ireland in 2015 was 14,124, compared with 9,864 last year. The number of care order applications rose from 1,800 in 2014 to 3,413 last year, while the extensions of interim care orders increased from 2,003 to 3,252, and reviews of care orders almost doubled from 806 to 1,502.

Speaking after the new figures were released, Dr Coulter said: “These figures show different practices by different courts in different parts of the country, in terms of the orders they make and the use of reviews. They also show wide variation in the volumes of applications dealt with.”

She added: “While some of the wide disparities between different parts of the country may reflect different court and recording practice, they must also reflect different practices on the part of Tusla/the Child and Family Agency in bringing applications.

“This may reflect a greater use of voluntary care in some parts of the country, or higher levels of family support.”

Dr Coulter also pointed out that the figures show that some courts are more likely to grant orders than others.

She said: “Nationally, 13.4 per cent of applications are either refused or withdrawn or struck out. However, in certain courts, a relatively high numbers of cases are refused, struck out or withdrawn.”