The Health Service Executive and the child and family agency Tusla were subject to an investigation after a woman complained about the lack of support she received while fostering a teenager with Down syndrome and severe autism.
The woman took in the girl when she was a baby after she was abandoned at birth.
According to
RTÉ, the Ombudsman for Children conducted an investigation into her claims that the two state agencies left her 'financially, emotionally and physically drained'.
Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon found that the girl was reliant on her foster family in every aspect of her life, from clothing, feeding, dressing, everyday tasks and medical appointments.
The HSE and Tusla have been accused of failing to provide enough support financially to the family. The Ombudsman detailed how the HSE refused to pay money to the foster care provider years ago, while Tusla is failing to do so now.
He has recommended that the HSE and Tusla do a review and should come up with a respite action plan for children with a disability. This includes all 471 children with disabilities who are in foster care.
