The concept of guardianship for children and young people in foster care is being examined, the Minister of State with responsibility for Children, Mr Brian Lenihan, told the annual conference of the Irish Foster Care ssociation at the weekend.
This proposal by family law expert Mr Geoffrey Shannon came in a report from a working group on adoption and was discussed at a conference on October 17th and 18th, he said.
Mr Lenihan said he was now considering ways progress could be made on the proposal.
"Childcare policy is grounded on the principle that children who cannot, for whatever reason, live with their own family are provided with an appropriate alternative," he said.
"Studies have shown that the development of a child is best achieved in a loving family environment, which foster care normally provides.
"While the ultimate objective of the foster care service is to enable a child to return safely to his or her own family, data indicate that many remain in care on a long-term basis and some until they are 18 years of age.
Mr Lenihan said that one of the recommendations of the report was that national standards on practices and procedures be drawn up to ensure the highest quality of foster care.
A committee chaired by the Social Services Inspectorate had been established to draw up these standards which were launched last April.
"I know that the issue of the adoption of children who have been in long-term foster care has been to the forefront of your minds," he told the conference.
Following a consultation process involving the Irish Foster Care Association as well as other interested parties, he said, a working document was drawn up by Mr Shannon and was published last June. This now provided the basis for further debate.