Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of children and adolescents whom the health service has sent out of the country for institutional treatment; and the cost to the State in 2003 and 2004 of this treatment. [2446/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to non-offending children with behavioural problems who are in need of special care or protection.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of services for the relatively small number of non-offending children with behavioural problems. Accordingly, my Department has requested the primary, community and continuing care directorate of the Health Service Executive to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.