Relief after Tusla U-turn on future of crucial Tipperary foster care service

Tusla has taken a U-turn on proposals to discontinue using the foster care services provided by St Bernard’s in Fethard.
A decision to close the service was received with huge dismay and Tusla have now accepted that there was not appropriate consultation and engagement with foster carers and local management.

As a result Tusla said it has decided to maintain the service provision with St Bernard’s for 2026 with no disruption to current supports.

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Tusla stated that the local team would engage with foster carers throughout 2026 in the co-design of supports to be provided in 2027 and stated that they intend to meet with foster carers in person in the next few weeks.

“We have communicated this to our foster carers and will meet with them in person in the next couple of weeks. As an Agency, we are absolutely committed to supporting our foster carers and to providing them with the support they need to look after the children and young people in their care,” said Tusla.

Senator Garret Ahearn welcomed the decision of Tusla to maintain the St Bernard’s therapeutic fostering support service for 2026. “Foster carers spoke very clearly about how important this support is for the children in their care, and it is encouraging to see those concerns listened to. St Bernard’s truly is an amazing service that is changing the lives of these families. We need to be expanding these services not withdrawing them,” insisted Senator Ahearn.

“Over the past few weeks, I have had the privilege of speaking with a number of foster carers locally.Their dedication is truly remarkable. The stories they shared are often heartbreaking, but they are also a testament to the compassion and resilience of families who step forward to care for vulnerable children.

I believe the strength and honesty of those voices played a significant role in Tusla’s decision to maintain the service for 2026. I also want to acknowledge the Irish Foster Care Association for the important role they played in supporting carers and ensuring their concerns were heard,” he said.

“Many of the children who rely on this service have already experienced significant disruption in their lives. Maintaining continuity of trusted therapeutic support is critically important for their stability and wellbeing,” he added.

“Foster carers do extraordinary work every day, but they cannot do it alone. Services like St Bernard’s provide the professional support that helps carers maintain stable placements for vulnerable children,” said Senator Ahearn. “I also welcome Tusla’s acknowledgement that consultation with foster carers should have taken place earlier. The commitment to work with carers in designing future supports for 2027 is an important step,” he said.

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Senator Ahearn said it was vital that the process now taking place genuinely involves foster carers and service providers so that any future changes strengthen, rather than weaken, the supports available to children in care.
“The most important outcome here is that children currently receiving support will not experience disruption. That stability must remain at the centre of any future decisions,” he concluded.