A total of 86 care orders were issued last year and 17 this year up to April 12, Family Affairs Minister Dolores Cristina said yesterday.
Replying to a parliamentary question by Labour MP Adrian Vassallo, she said care orders were issued for children who needed to be protected or controlled as established by the Children's Act.
In reply to another question by Dr Vassallo, she said that according to the Appogg Agency records, there were currently 170 children under foster care.