A devastated Tipperary couple have appealed to the Minister for Children to intervene after their grandchild was taken into foster care when they were deemed too old to care for him.
According to a
report in The Journal, Independent TD Mattie McGrath has urged new Children's Minister Katherine Zappone to demand clarification from child and family agency Tusla over the removal of a boy from the care of his relatives, who he had been living with for four years.
Despite the support of the child's primary school and the local doctor, the couple, who are reportedly in their mid-60s, failed to qualify as foster carers, despite taking a parenting course and providing full medical reports. They have also put forward that they do not claim any carers payments in respect of the child.
The child's mother suffers from mental health issues and cannot look after the child herself.
The Journal reports that a consultant pediatrician, who treated the child for enuresis (bed wetting) wrote a letter confirming that it was clear the child felt “secure with its grandmother” and urging that the child remain in her care.
The doctor felt moving the child, who was described by the school principal as "very happy", into foster care "would be detrimental to [the child's] welfare."
According to Tusla guidelines, children should ideally be cared for in an environment where there is no more than a 40-year age gap between the carers and the foster child, although this rule is not strictly enforced.
According to a letter sent to the couple:
"While there can be some flexibility on this to a small degree, the 60-year age gap which exists between yourself and [child's name] is very concerning especially if [child's name] is to remain in long term care (which is the social work application before the court) until [the child] is 18 years."
The heartbroken grandparents say they have been 'left in the dark' by Tusla throughout the process and have appealed for custody of the child, even suggesting that it be reviewed every six months.
The grandfather said: "We cherish and adore this child, our number one pride and joy. We just want to see our grandchild develop and grow up to be a good citizen some day. But now we have been robbed of our greatest treasure."
Tusla does not comment on individual cases.
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