An interim care order was granted by Dublin District Court for a teenage girl whose half-brother was in care with a relative foster carer. The mother was not present and the court was told that she had not seen her child for a number of months and was not responding to any communications from the social work team.
The social worker confirmed that the family had been known to the social work team for approximately 13 years. She said that the mother was an active drug user and the key concerns included emotional abuse, neglect and non-attendance at school. The social worker said that initially the mother would engage but then did not take the necessary steps.
Since earlier in the year the child had lived with a relative and had not seen the mother for a number of months. The social worker said the teenager loved her mother. The teenager’s half-brother had been in the same placement since he was a baby.
The social worker outlined the supports the teenager had including a key worker and a play therapy referral for her linked to her current placement. She said that the relative foster carer needed to receive the financial supports and to receive the section 59 payments.
The guardian ad litem said that the foster carer should receive a backdated fostering allowance. She said the relative had brought the children on holidays. It was hoped that the play therapy would be funded and would commence as soon as possible.
The judge said he had reviewed the file and read the social work report and the GAL’s report and was satisfied to grant the initial interim care order.
The judge commended the carer for the tremendous work done to date and said that the foster carer needed to have the proper supports put in place including the fostering allowance which should be backdated. The court asked that an update be provided on this element on the extension date.
Granting the interim care order, he made a direction on the court’s own motion in relation to the play therapy and dispensed with the consent of the mother to allow this to happen.