Minister Foley launches public consultation on how the state provides for children and young people in the care system

The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has announced a public consultation on how the state provides for children and young people in the care system.

The State looks after about 6,000 children who cannot live with their birth parents, in various forms of alternative care. Most of these children are in foster care, which is usually

the preferred option because it most closely replicates a family home environment.

Other types of care include children living with relatives (known as kinship care), care in residential facilities, care for separated children seeking asylum and special care for children who are very vulnerable with complex psychological and sociological profiles.

Minister Foley is today launching an online public consultation for the National Policy Framework on Alternative Care starting which will run for several weeks until late March 2026.

Minister Foley said:

“I encourage everyone with an interest in the development of a new national policy for children and young people in the care system to take part in this online consultation. It is an opportunity to articulate the ambition and duty that I know we all share in relation to young people in care.

"The children known to our care system are some of the most vulnerable young people in Ireland. It is simply not enough to leave no child behind. We need to help and support every child to reach their full potential.

"The development of the National Policy Framework represents a significant opportunity to improve the experiences and outcomes for our young people in care and those who have left our care system.”

This consultation reinforces the Government’s commitment to ensuring voices and views of people with care experience are at the centre of the National Policy Framework, from development to delivery.

The National Policy Framework will aim to articulate a future and Whole of Government vision of alternative care in Ireland and will also deliver on a Programme for Government commitment in this regard.

The public consultation seeks input through an online survey, as well as other options for people to share their views by email or by post. Responses to the public consultation will be reviewed by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to inform the design and development of Ireland’s first National Policy framework for Alternative Care.

The public call for input is part of a broader process of consultation with children, young people, families, stakeholders and sectoral experts. Responses and feedback from the overall consultation process will enable the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to identify key issues and help to shape the National Policy Framework for Alternative Care.

The Minister and the Department want to hear from a diversity of people, including but not limited to those who may have personal experience with Ireland’s alternative care system, with contributions regarding:

1. The period during which a child is in alternative care.
2. The period before a child comes into alternative care, for example matters relating to child protection, family support, or early intervention.
3. The period after a child has been in care, for example matters relating to aftercare or longer term outcomes.
4. Other relevant matters.

The National Policy Framework on Alternative Care will be delivered in the summer of 2026, following this robust consultation process.