‘Over 10 years later, I still suffer from panic attacks' – people who were in child residential care tell of troubles they faced in system

Irish Independent

25-06-2025

He painted a sad picture of his chaotic early years in the care system at an event organised by the Children's Rights Alliance, attended by Children's Minister Norma Foley.
When the system worked, it worked really well, he said, but when it failed, it could leave you feeling more defeated than before, he told the gathering of children's rights advocates yesterday.
He 'absolutely hated' his first residential placement. It was a perfect picture of 'children should be seen and not heard'.
He felt like a case file or a problem to be solved, rather than a child.
He was suffering from severe mental health difficulties due to trauma early in life.
'I was given no privacy, no autonomy and no real voice in my care,' he said.
'Decisions about my life were never mine to be involved in. I didn't have access to any real meaningful mental health support.'
They were told the only way to stop my panic attacks was to ignore them
He said he was made to feel ashamed if he ended up in hospital.
'I remember when they were told that the only way to stop my panic attacks was to ignore them,' he said.
'No one stood up and said that doesn't sound quite right. Instead, if I dared to have a panic attack, staff were instructed to completely ignore me for up to an hour.
'Over 10 years later, and I still suffer from panic attacks.'
The next home was the opposite. His room had art supplies and teddies and staff paid attention to the things that made life worth living for him. He started to act his age and felt less institutionalised.
'I finally felt heard, seen and safe,' he said. 'I was never made to feel like I was seen as a case file. I was seen as Kai.'
As an early school-leaver, he felt he would never see the walls of a college, but last week he got a first-class honours in his social care degree.
He called for the voices of children in care to be heard when reforms to the system are considered and more support for young people after they reach 18.
'At times my mental health had to be in crisis before anyone listened or acted, a failure that not only nearly cost me my life, but took my best friend from me at age 16, a loss and pain too well known within this community,' he said.
There is a need for up to 300 social workers to respond to increasing demand
Andrea Reilly, who suffers from foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), said she found it a challenge to access services and support while in foster care.
She felt support was crisis-led.
'Unless the shit really hits the fan, you're not going to get the support needed as quick as other people,' she said.
Kate Duggan, CEO of Tusla, said there is a need for up to 300 social workers to respond to increasing demand, and an extra 200 beds in residential care.
Due to staffing challenges, a social worker apprenticeship scheme is in place, which she described as a 'game­changer'.
However, it will take up to three years to see the outcome on the ground.
The Children's Rights Alliance is calling for an additional €50m in Budget 2026 to provide investment in core child protection and welfare services.
Ms Foley said a new framework for alternative care to support children and young people will be complete by the summer of 2026.