Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I thank Deputy Costello for bringing this issue to our attention. I agree that one is lining oneself up for trouble where one does not consult or get the support of a community for the location of a facility like this. This should also be done through consultation with other agencies charged with keeping public order. The business of putting facilities in place without telling anyone, thus allowing people to find out about them by dent of an occurrence in their area is completely wrong.

I welcome the opportunity to reply to this Adjournment matter. The Health Service Executive is required under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. There are a number of procedures which the HSE can use when dealing with children who are at risk or who are in need of care. If a child is in need of care and protection and is unlikely to receive it at home then the HSE must apply to the courts to take the child into care. The HSE is obliged to care for these children for as long as their welfare requires it. All of these children have unique circumstances and experiences that need to be taken into account when HSE managers, social workers and other staff are planning and providing services.

Standards for children in residential care are governed by the National Standards for Residential Care. The HSE centres are currently subject to inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, and the non-statutory centres are currently registered and inspected by the HSE. The centre referred to by Deputy Costello is a non-statutory centre which was registered by the HSE to commence operation on 10 September 2010 pending a full inspection as per the registration and inspection service protocol. The centre was registered for a maximum capacity of two young people aged 12 to 17 on admission. The written and agreed purpose and function of the centre was to offer short term placements to young people. The service was to offer a high level of support to young people in a community based setting.

The first full on-site inspection of the centre by the HSE took place on 14 and 15 March 2011. There were two young people living in the centre at the time of the inspection. In general, the inspectors found that the centre was not in substantial compliance with a number of operational practices and there were issues with leadership and management of the centre. It was also identified that there was no consistent model of care being utilised in the centre. The inspectors have been in regular contact with the centre since the inspection and have been informed by the registered proprietors that it is their intention to request the suspension of the registration of the centre. A meeting has been organised with the registered proprietors to formalise the suspension of the registration. There is currently one young person in the centre and a move on plan has been identified for this young person in a planned manner.

I again thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to our attention. I will take on board his suggestion in regard to a register of non-statutory centres, which is probably where the problem arises. I also agree that the register should be available to all local authorities in regard to planning matters. The manner in which the centre concerned was put into operation is not the model we should be following.

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