Written answers

Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Department of Health and Children

Child Care Services

9:00 am

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of separated children currently resident in hostels; where these hostels are located; the number of staff assigned to each hostel; the role of each staff member; the personnel on site outside office hours; the number of separated children that have been placed in foster care to date in 2010; the number of separated children that have been placed in children's residential centres to date in 2010; which children's residential centres have separated children been placed in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37263/10]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The immediate and the ongoing needs of separated children seeking asylum (SCSA) relating to accommodation, medical and social needs as well as their application for refugee status are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in accordance with the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and the Child Care Act, 1991. Where children are identified by An Garda Síochána at the point of entry, the circumstances are investigated and if there are any concerns about the welfare of the child, they are placed into the care of the HSE.

The HSE has developed a national policy on the standards and services to be provided to separated children seeking asylum. The policy seeks to achieve equity and equality of services to separated children seeking asylum vis a vis indigenous or resident children and to ensure that there is no differentiation of care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols.

The HSE is currently progressing plans to move to a more comprehensive model of care for these children. It is recognised that each child should be accommodated in a service either a foster care or residential placement that meets all relevant standards as well as providing the necessary security and grounding in the community that is appropriate for their needs. It is the intention of the Health Service Executive to phase out the hostel type of care arrangement with the provision of care for separated children seeking asylum being provided on a national basis with each child cared for in a registered care placement or equivalent. The HSE has appointed a senior manager with responsibility for managing these changes and developments on a full time basis.

In January 2009, the HSE in co-operation with Refugee Integration Agency (operated by Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform) agreed a policy for the transfer of separated children into adult services once they reach the age of 18.

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