evidence: Overview - There are 3,801 children and young people in the care system in Northern Ireland, a 5% increase from 2022 and the highest number on record since the introduction of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.71 - The number of children in care in Northern Ireland has risen by 35% in the last ten years and by 64% since 1999.72 - 980 children entered the care system in 2022/23, a 9% increase since the previous year.73 - 748 children left the care system in 2022/23, a 4% decrease from the previous year.74 - In general, there has been a trend of children staying longer in care before being discharged. 22% of children in care have been looked after for less than a year, with 32% looked after for five years or longer.75 - 42% of children in care are aged 12 years and over, compared to 34% of the general child population.76 Fostering - There are approximately 2,827 foster households in Northern Ireland, this is a 6% decrease since last year when there were 3,009 households.77 - 4 in 5 children in care are placed in a foster care arrangement, this is approximately 80% of all children in care in Northern Ireland (n=3,040). This has increased by 1% since last year.78 - 45% of children in foster care are cared for by kinship carers.79