Foster families: first-aid and CPR standards
First Aid & CPR Ireland
Becoming a foster carer in Ireland means giving a safe home to a child who cannot live with their family. Training is compulsory before approval, and first-aid training is commonly part of the preparation and ongoing learning.
The first-aid requirement
Foster care in Ireland is governed by the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations 1995 and the National Standards for Foster Care (2003), overseen by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. There is no single statute naming a standalone first-aid certificate, but Tusla and fostering agencies routinely include first-aid training — recognised to the PHECC First Aid Responder standard — in carer preparation and continuing development.
Suitability is assessed and approved by Tusla or the relevant fostering agency. First-aid training is in addition to the fostering assessment and parenting suitability, and is expected to be kept current.
How to meet it
A recognized, up-to-date first-aid and CPR certificate meets this requirement. It is in addition to the required training or assessment, and is renewed periodically.
Training aligned with the latest emergency-care standards
Our CPR, AED and first-aid training is developed in line with the most recent international guidelines for emergency cardiovascular care and first aid.
We rigorously follow the recommendations of ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation), the international body responsible for the scientific evaluation and development of global resuscitation standards. These recommendations serve as a reference for health organizations, institutions and professional orders worldwide — and are updated as scientific and clinical evidence evolves.
Keep your skills current with confidence
Every intervention can make a difference. Keeping CPR and emergency-care skills current is both a professional requirement and a responsibility toward patients, colleagues and the public.
See the recognized first-aid courses in your regionReferences
- Tusla — Can I foster?
- National Standards for Foster Care (2003)
- ILCOR — International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation
Content is being updated.