The judge in Dublin District Court extended interim care orders (ICOs) for four weeks in respect of two children. The parents had not engaged with the proceedings and had not seen the children for several months. The children were living with their maternal grandparents.
The court heard that the orders had first been made in mid-September. The parents did not generally attend court or make applications and had not been in contact with the CFA. They had not seen the children since the summer.
The CFA solicitor told the court the children were doing really well in the care of their maternal grandparents. The agency sought to progress the matter on affidavit evidence rather than calling witnesses.
Counsel for the guardian ad litem (GAL) said applications were in progress for medical cards for both children. The GAL had met them in mid-October and described them as two children with a high level of need. Their grandparents were providing day-to-day care, but there were some concerns. The GAL said that the grandparents had not attended an important meeting about the children’s educational needs, and that there was a high volume of appointments for them to attend. The case was now moving from the initial social work team to the children-in-care team.
Counsel for the GAL noted that the grandparents were under significant time pressure due to the number of appointments and responsibilities they had assumed.
The judge noted that the application was proceeding on an uncontested basis and that it was the second extension of the ICOs. He said the court would proceed on the basis of the affidavit and the written reports. He recorded that the children had a high level of need and that there were many appointments for them, placing considerable pressure on the grandparents. He noted that the GAL had met the children and that the case was transferring to the children-in-care team.
On the basis of the affidavits and reports, the judge was satisfied that the grounds for extending the ICOs for a further period were met. He extended the orders for approximately twenty-eight days and adjourned the full care order application under section 18 to that date for further consideration.