More foster carers are needed in Cork as Ukrainian children arrive in Ireland.
That's according to TUSLA as they issue an urgent appeal for people to open their homes to children in need of a home, due to the current humanitarian crisis and the impact of Covid-19 on communities.
The child and family agency say they have changed their rules, so aspiring carers no longer need to be married, unemployed and own their own home.
3,991 foster carers currently open their homes to 5,248 children across Ireland.
TUSLA say there are many types of foster care such as short-term, long-term, emergency placements, respite fostering, and other supports, so a family can choose a way to foster that suits them best.
Speaking to RedFM News, Clare Murphy, Regional Chief Officer for the South East TUSLA says Cork has large amount of foster carers already, but they need more.
"Since the Ukraine war we've had 143 unaccompanied minors arriving, so these would be children arriving without any family member, friend or relative.
"All of those children came into care initially, but we were able to reunite some, and now we have 62 children remaining in care.
"We don't know how many more children could arrive from Ukraine, so that's why we're urgently trying to recruit additional foster carers, people who feel they could open their homes and their hearts to a child."
To find out more about becoming a foster carer, see fostering.ie
