"There is a general misconception that because an area is affluent there is no need for children to be put in care . . . but that is far from being the case, " said Yvonne Dawkins of the HSE fostering team.

"If we could even find 10 more foster care families, then it would make a huge difference, but it can often be difficult to get people who are in the right stage of their lives to become foster carers."

There are 75 foster families in the south Dublin area, with 82 children in care. But while in south Dublin, along with the rest of the country, the numbers of children requiring foster care has continued to rise, the number of available foster parents has begun to dwindle.

"If a child has to be moved, then they have to be moved immediately, " said Dawkins. "And while the needs of the child are at the heart of every placement, it can happen that availability may have to override that if there are no other choices. So if we can't find somewhere in the area, the child might have to be moved out of south Dublin altogether."

The HSE has now started a concerted campaign to find foster parents in south Dublin, with the fostering team last week visiting several supermarkets and shopping centres in the area to encourage more people to consider getting involved.

"We're looking for people from all walks of life, who are single or married, who live in their own homes or in rented accommodation, " said Dawkins. "Obviously people have a lot of worries about fostering children, but there is a lot of support to go with it and children tend to settle very well and get on with their education."

Anne Evers from Sandymount became a foster parent eight years ago when a friend asked her if she would like to try it.

"I got two boys for what was initially a weekend but which is now nearly eight years, " she told the Sunday Tribune.

The brothers, aged 10 and 13 at the time, got on well with Evers' youngest sons of 11 and 14.

"It worked because they were all around the same age and could share the same interests, " she said.

"They livened everything up. My main worry would have been what kind of effects they might have on the children but in fact they were a great influence on my boys and showed them a different side of life."