Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 117: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children reported to have gone missing from State care in 2009 and in 2010; the number of these who went missing from foster homes, from special care units, from residential care or from other units and the number of these who are still reported missing. [6064/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1Children are defined as missing if they are absent from their care placement and the foster carer or staff member does not know where they are. The time missing is not the only criterion used to determine whether a child is considered to be missing but is used in combination with other risk factors. From January 2010 to June 2010 a total of 196 children have gone missing from care as outlined below.

The vast majority of children returned or were returned within a few hours or days of initially going missing. 81% returned within 24 hours, 92% were located or returned within 72 hours and 94% returned within 4 days of original report of absence. The majority of incidences of absence relate to the 14 to 17 year age group. They may have stayed with friends, or have returned to the home of a sibling or other family member. The young people in the highest risk of going missing are those who are recently received into care or into a new placement. In both situations, the young person may be unsettled, may not have yet built trusting relationships with their carer, and their carer may not be familiar with family and associates of the young person. As of the 6th August 2010 four of the children identified in the table above were still reported missing.

The HSE have advised that, due to difficulties with data collection and inconsistency of information provided, the information in relation to children missing from care is not available for 2009 or the latter half of 2010. I have asked the HSE to follow up on the status of the four children mentioned in the paragraph above since 6th August 2010.

The HSE has assured me that prior to the Deputy's question, the HSE has with effect from January 2011, introduced a standardised risk assessment tool to ensure comprehensive data collection on children reported missing from care. A summary of the first six months of 2011 will be provided to HIQA in July. The HSE has also agreed a new protocol with An Garda Síochána which provides an improved set of procedures and definitions to enable effective joint action. This protocol is currently awaiting clearance from Garda authorities. As soon as all new protocols are in place information about missing children will be collected on a weekly basis. The HSE takes the case of every missing child seriously, particularly given the vulnerability of many and prompt action is always taken to locate missing children.