Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the report being prepared by the Independent Review Group into the death of children in care will be completed by 31 December 2010 as originally promised; if any time extension has been requested and or granted for the furnishing of the report; when it has been finalised and received; when it will be published; if, to date, she has received any reports indicating that the numbers of children who died in care since the commencement of the year 2000 exceed 188; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47101/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I established the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths (IRGCD) on March 8th 2010. The Group is composed of Ms Norah Gibbons and Mr. Geoffrey Shannon.

The HSE have transferred the relevant files to the IRGCD, via my Office. The HSE originally identified 188 files for transfer to the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths in respect of children who died while in care, children who were known to the child protection services and young people who had been in care as children and died after their 18th birthday. Following that transfer, and as had been previously indicated, the HSE re-examined all of its records to check whether there were any other outstanding cases which should be passed to the Review Group. In the course of that examination, the HSE identified a further 11 cases, 9 relating to children known to the services and 2 young adults. All of the relevant files were passed to the IRGCD in October, and they form part of the work now being carried out by the group.

The Group has sought certain clarification in relation to information presented to it and the HSE is responding to queries raised. As well as the extra files provided in October, a number of the files presented were the subject of ongoing reviews in the HSE and this delayed the transfer of these files to the Independent Review Group. Taking these factors into account, coupled with the need for a thorough and complete process and the large amount of case work presented, it is likely that the Group will report to me in February 2011.

It should be noted that part of the work of the IRGCD is to analyse the categorisation of the deaths being examined and to ensure that the cases placed in each category are correct.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has provided her with a schedule of clear timelines for completing all reviews of child deaths which are currently in progress but not yet complete; if such schedule includes, in respect of each review, milestone dates for completion of the review, finalisation of the report and publication of an executive summary; when she proposes to lay a copy of the schedule before the Houses of the Oireachtas and publish it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47103/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Schedule referred to has not yet been received from the HSE, but I am informed that it is to be provided very shortly. I will lay a copy of the schedule before the Houses as soon as it has been received.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive, as promised in their statement of 24 May 2010, collated the numbers of deaths of children who were known to social services over the past decade who were not in the care of the State; if this information has yet been furnished to her and if she will detail the information received and if it has been referred to the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths. [47106/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Independent Review Group on Child Deaths (IRGCD) was established on March 8th 2010. The Group is composed of Ms Norah Gibbons and Mr. Geoffrey Shannon.

The HSE has collated the information and relevant files required for the work of the Review Group, including the cases referred to by the Deputy. This material was provided to my Office which transferred it to the Review Group. Following the first transfer of files, the HSE re-examined all of its records to check whether there were any other cases which should be passed tot he review group. A further 11 cases were identifed, 9 of which related to children known to the child protection services. These additional files have also been transferred to the Group. It is likely that the Group will report to me in February 2011. It should be noted that part of the work of the IRGCD is to analyse the categorisation of the deaths being examined and to ensure that the cases placed in each category are correct. I do not deem it appropriate at this juncture, given that the work of the Review Group is ongoing, to detail any specific information provided to the Group.