Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is developing a policy to deal with the increases in both the numbers of children committed to care in the past two years and the numbers of supervision orders applied for, as evidenced by the 174% increase in child care orders from 411 in 2004 to 1,125 in 2006, and the 90% increase in applications for supervision orders in the same period from 273 in 2004 to 520 in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24960/07]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I understand that the figures used in the Deputy's question come from the Annual Reports of the Courts Service. I also understand that a reply to question 21560/07 which related to the same matter was recently issued to the Deputy by the HSE. This reply included data relating to the number of Care Orders and Supervision Orders in force in 2004 and 2005 and these figures differed from those quoted by the Deputy. Officials from my Office have arranged for the HSE and the Courts Service to examine these differences with a view to resolving any issues with the data.

With regard to policy relating to children in care, a number of initiatives in recent years are aimed, inter alia at ensuring that services for children and young people are delivered in an effective, efficient and coordinated manner. In support of these initiatives, over €240m additional revenue has been provided for child protection and welfare services since 1997. It would also be important to note that of the more than 5,000 children in the care of the state approximately 90% are in foster care.

The Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) was set up to bring greater coherence to policy making for children. Children now have a stronger voice on issues that affect them through my attendance at cabinet meetings. The OMC focuses on harmonising policy issues that affect children in areas such as early childhood care and education, youth justice, child welfare and protection, children and young people's participation, research on children and young people and cross cutting initiatives for children.

The OMC is responsible for

Implementing the National Children's Strategy (2000-2010)

Implementing the National Childcare Investment Programme (2006-2010)

Developing policy and legislation on child welfare and child protection

Implementing the Children Act 1991 and the Children Act (2001)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Again, the purpose of having one body with responsibility for services at a national level is to ensure the delivery of services in an effective, efficient and coordinated manner.

In the context of the implementation of the Children Act, 2001 the Health Service Executive is involved with the Irish Youth Justice Service, the Garda Juvenile Liaison Service, the Probation Service and the Courts Service in the co-ordination of services for young people.

The HSE also has a key role in the National Implementation Group established under the Partnership agreement "Towards 2016" which hopefully will lead to improved co-ordination of services to children and young people in each county.

The Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) has played a crucial role in ensuring a quality assured system of care for children and young people who are in the care of the state. Legislation and standards have been developed in this area and it is essential that the services are monitored to ensure that they meet these requirements and that any deficiencies are identified and corrected. The SSI have published annual reports on the findings from inspections and informs the HSE, other bodies involved in the provision of services for children and young people, and the public on the standard of care in children's residential centres. The SSI was established on an administrative basis in 1999 and concentrated on the child care area, in particular on the inspection of Health Service Executive (HSE) operated residential child care facilities and it had also undertaken pilot inspections of foster care services. Under the provisions of the Health Act 2007, the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services was established on a statutory basis as part of the Health Information and Quality Authority in May 2007 and will continue the role of the SSI.

In addition to the aforementioned significant developments, the Agenda for Children's Services is being developed by the Office of the Minister for Children and will be published in 2007. The principle of having social services provided on the basis of the child being supported within the family, within the local community will be at the core of the national policy.