An investigation by the Ombudsman for Children into the case of a child with Down syndrome and severe autism, has found that services and supports provided to her and her foster family were insufficient.

Molly* was abandoned at birth but has been living with her current foster family since she was a baby. She is now a teenager. Her foster parents made a complaint to the Ombudsman about the level of support and services they were receiving from the HSE and Tusla (The Child and Family Agency).

The Ombudsman, Dr Niall Muldoon, has now published details of the case to highlight the many issues faced by children with disabilities in care.

"Molly is dependent on her foster carers in all areas of her care, including feeding, toileting, bathing, and dressing. She requires a wide range of therapies and services.

"Her foster carer complained to the Ombudsman for Children about the level of supports and services being provided by Tusla and the HSE. Although Molly brings joy and positivity to their home, her foster carer was struggling financially and emotionally to deal with her needs," Dr Muldoon explained.

In the report, Molly's foster carer said that while Molly has brought ‘nothing but love and positivity to their home', she is ‘financially, emotionally and physically drained', due to the lack of support she has received.

"She described feeling ‘emotionally destroyed' but nevertheless she says she ‘had to keep trying to find a way to fight for' her foster daughter. She equates her situation to being kept ‘like a prisoner' in her own home at times," the report into the investigation stated.

Dr Muldoon said that an investigation of Molly's case revealed ‘a lack of coordination between Tusla and the HSE, which meant that the services and supports provided were insufficient'.

"We also found that this is a problem facing many children with disabilities in care. In 2015, there were 472 children with a diagnosed moderate to severe disability in foster care, representing approximately 8% of the foster care population in Ireland," he noted.

Following this investigation, Tusla has committed to undertake a systemic review of the supports and services currently offered to children in its care with a moderate to severe disability.

It said it will also identify these children to the HSE ‘to facilitate care planning and joint working for these children'.

"This is an important investigation highlighting the struggles of some of our most vulnerable children, many of whom cannot speak out for themselves. Foster carers and social workers all over the country are working tirelessly to support young people with disabilities who are in care, but we cannot be dependent on individual efforts, the system must support young people to reach their full potential," Dr Muldoon insisted.

He added that he welcomed the commitments made by Tusla and the HSE to improve services for these children and looks forward to ‘speedy progress in this area'.

The full investigation into Molly's case can be read here

*Not her real name