Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children in care who have been admitted to hospital in respect of drugs overdoses for each of the past five years; the number of those who were residing in foster care; the number who were in a residential care setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20663/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children who have been placed in residential facilities outside of the State for each of the past five years. [20664/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the average cost of placing a child in a residential care facility outside of the State; the average cost for placing a child in a public residential care facility here; and the average cost of placing a child in a private residential care facility here. [20665/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children who have been placed in residential facilities outside of the State who have made complaints of abuse of any nature for each of the past five years; if the Health Service Executive have conducted their own investigations into each of the allegations made; the results of such investigations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20666/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the type of care which is provided to children placed in residential care facilities outside of this State that is not available here. [20667/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children who are on a waiting list for admission to a residential care facility outside of the State; and the number of children who are on a waiting list for admission to a residential care facility here. [20672/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children who have been removed from residential care facilities outside of the State for each of the past five years at the request of parents or social workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20673/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 177, inclusive, and 182 and 183 together.

As these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has conducted a feasibility study on establishing a facility to cater for children needing highly specialised residential care that is not available here; when this feasibility study was conducted; the results of this study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20668/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of migrant children who have been moved from hostel accommodation by the Health Service Executive to foster care and residential children's homes during March and April 2009; the number of children placed in foster care and the number of children placed in a residential home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20669/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children who have gone missing from State care to date in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20670/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children who have been placed in British residential care facilities who have participated in activities with army cadet programmes or other army training exercises for each of the past five years; the institutions in which they have participated in these activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20671/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will establish a review committee to inquire into the high number of children who have died in State care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20674/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive has established a high level Review Group to review the deaths of children in the care of the state since 2000. The Terms of Reference are as follows:

To review reports of the deaths of children in the care of the state since 2000 to:

• Identify key messages of the reports.

• To identify learning from each report.

• To identify key themes or issues common to the reports.

• To make recommendations to the HSE National Director in relation to the above.

I understand from the HSE that there are 20 cases in all. Of these, 9 deaths were either accidental or related to complications arising from an existing medical condition or due to a terminal illness. Of the remaining 11, four investigations are still ongoing. Once these investigations are complete and the reports made available to the Review Group, a comprehensive report will finalised.