Last year Barnardos children’s charity supported more than 1,000 children across its targeted family support services who had experienced living with a parent with poor mental health. Barnardos today published a report focusing on the impact poor parental mental health has on children in Ireland, the prevalence across the country and actions that could be taken to reduce the resulting childhood trauma and harm.

In response to RTE Primetime Investigates programme – Inside the Care System – Barnardos children’s charity is calling on the Government, the Department of Children Disability & Equality and Tusla to put forward an action-oriented plan with clear timelines that sets out exactly how and when the use of Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) will end. The children’s charity has long said that the alternative care system is in crisis with a national shortage of foster and residential placements for babies, children and young people.